PRODUCT WATCH

Manufacturers guaranteeing annuity

Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. of North America in Boston has introduced its guaranteed retirement income program, an investment option available on Venture fixed and variable annuities that guarantees a minimum income payout during retirement of a 6% compound annual return on principal even if the actual performance is lower.

It includes a step-up feature that secures gains and permanently increases the minimum payout if an account grows higher than the 6% annual rate. If the market goes up by 30%, the 6% future gain on both the original principal and the 30% gained interest is guaranteed, even if the market tanks the following year.

Oh, say, can you see

20/20 Focus Fund?

Prudential Investments of Newark, N.J., has introduced the 20/20 Focus Fund, a mutual fund portfolio that invests in up to 20 value and growth stocks each. Managed by Tom Jackson and Spiros Segalas, normally the fund will be fully invested, with no more than 5% of its assets in cash.

Dreyfus prospectus

now an easy-read-us

The Dreyfus Corp. of New York has offered its first simplified prospectus for the Large Company Value Fund, The new prospectus conforms with the Form N-1(a) mutual fund disclosure requirements recently amended by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Condor flying high

on World Wide Web

Condor Capital, a Martinsville, N.J., investment adviser, has opened an interactive web site at www.condorcapital.com. It offers account information on a weekly basis, news about the firm, its investment advisers and recent press clippings.

Pinnacle annuity

has bow-wow option

Integrity Life Insurance of Louisville, Ky., has launched Select Ten Plus, a tax-deferred “Dogs of the Dow” investment portfolio, within its Pinnacle variable annuity. It invests equally in the 10 highest dividend-yielding stocks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which are held for one year.

Got $2 million

for real estate?

Clarion Partners of New York has launched the Development Ventures LP fund, which invests in domestic real estate development projects such as office, industrial, retail, multifamily and hotels. The fund size will be $100 million to $200 million with an initial closing at $50 million. With a five-year term, its minimum investment is $2 million.

Morgan Stanley going

over ‘The Asian Edge’

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. has launched a global equity research report, “The Asian Edge,” focusing on 110 companies in Japan and elsewhere in Asia that its analysts believe enjoy a domestic, regional or global sustainable competitive edge. The report also highlights 50 companies that it believes haven’t reached their potential price and 20 investment ideas based on the 50 companies.

GlobalTrade makes

links to 40 markets

BNY ESI & Co. of New York has introduced GlobalTrade, a Windows-based, real-time, equity trade management system with access to more than 40 stock markets worldwide. It links a company’s portfolio managers and traders electronically to the international stock markets. The executed trade and settlement information will be posted automatically to Bank of New York’s domestic and global custody systems.

Pimco muni fund

has $2,500 minimum

Pimco Funds Distributors LLC of Stamford, Conn., has added the Municipal Bond Fund, a tax-exempt fund managed by Pacific Investment Management Co., a sister institutional investment firm. Offered in both retail and institutional class shares, minimum initial investment for the new fund is $2,500.

For caffeine lovers:

Java-based Xpresso

Standard & Poor’s Comstock of Harrison, N.Y., has introduced Xpresso, its Java-based financial information system. The licensed software offers real-time quotes, news, up-to-the-second time and sales and Nasdaq Level II data.

Fortune, Telescan

combine online

Time Inc. and Telescan Inc. have launched Fortune Investor, which combines editorial content from Fortune magazine with Telescan’s stock, mutual fund and analytical information. The site, www.fortuneinvestor.com, is aimed at higher-end investors who want to customize and track market activity. Subscriptions cost from $9.95 to $34.95 a month.

Quick & Reilly goes

swiftly in cyberspace

Quick & Reilly, a New York discount brokerage, and sister company U.S. Clearing offer free, real-time stock quotes to retail investors at www.quickwaynet.com. The new features are supported by digiTrade software.

Venture capital

connection online

New Vision Financial Inc. of McLean, Va., has introduced Edie-Online, an around-the-clock Internet-based information system that connects emerging growth businesses with potential investors. Investors can browse in an electronic library covering business plans, presentations, financial statements, management resumes and types of financing.

Wonder where

customers went?

MySoftware Co. of Palo Alto, Calif., has launched Change of Address Update, which allows small businesses to obtain the most current address information for their customers. The service automatically identifies those who have registered a move with the post office during the previous six months. With a turnaround rate of two business days, the service charges from $19.95 to $59.95 for lists containing less than 15,000 records, and $3.95 a thousand for larger lists.

Shake it, Roth

program falls out

Money Tree Software of Philomath, Ore., has introduced Roth IRA Illustrator 2.0. The updated program produces account projections with state and federal tax calculations, multiple conversion scenarios and year-by-year benefit comparisons.

Fidelity unit

checking facts

Fidelity Investments of Boston has begun a computer-driven service to gather company financial information through Enterprise Data Systems, its commercial technology arm. Called ActionService, it verifies information about mergers, dividends, stock splits and other company moves.

Everen expands

into Detroit suburbs

Everen Securities Inc. of Chicago has opened a sixth Michigan branch office at 114 Kercheval Ave. in Gross Pointe Farms.

Send product news and information to Wendy Hong at InvestmentNews, 220 E. 42nd St., Ninth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017-5846.