Janus wants to stand alone
From The Wall Street Journal
Kansas City Southern Industries Inc. is moving ahead with the planned spinoff of its financial-services business. The new spinoff, to be called Stilwell Financial Inc., is causing opposition from executives and employees at Janus Capital Corp., which accounts for more than 90% of Kansas City Southern's revenue and profit. The fund company, 82% of which is owned by Kansas City Southern, has argued that it should be spun off separately, without Kansas City Southern's other fund related firms -- Berger Associates, Nelson Money Managers and DST. A Janus spin-off would draw more admiration from Wall Street, because of the company's fast growth and good picks over recent years in technology stocks, analysts say.

Reading the fine print on the Value label
From The Wall Street Journal
Not all value mutual funds are created equal. Although the value label is supposed to apply to funds that target underpriced, overlooked stocks, it now has been stretched to cover some variations on the theme, from "deep" value to "new" value. While value funds as a group have rebounded this year, and are starting to again attract investors, some of them are powering ahead of the overall stock market as others lag behind.

Wireless trading
From The San Francisco Chronicle
Charles Schwab Corp. has started a research and development group to create wireless, handheld stock-trading devices for its customers by year's end. The group has been formed in partnership with closely held Aether Technologies to develop the technology for devices such as pagers, handheld computers and cellular phones. The new products will be introduced to Schwab's Signature Services customers, its wealthiest and most active clients.  

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