The distribution of investment management includes, but is not limited to: separately managed accounts, mutual funds, variable annuities, unit trusts, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and other exchange-traded products (ETPs).

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The PVF allows the investor to receive an up-front payment (typically, 75-85% market value) in exchange for delivery of a variable amount of shares or cash in the future, at which time the capital gain is realized for tax purposes and the tax on the capital gain is paid.

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With this sort of contract, the owner of a big, highly appreciated stock position gets an upfront payment from an investment firm--typically for 75% to 85% of the value of his shares--in exchange for agreeing to deliver a variable number of shares or cash in the future, with the exact amount dependent on how the stock performs.

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The emergence of a weak target exchange rate implies a more internationalized yen, which is another variable in arresting excessive appreciation of the dollar.

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In a typical interest-rate swap, one party agrees to exchange a fixed-rate obligation with another that has a floating, or variable, rate exposure.

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