Book excerpt: The investment and securities industry is rebounding from the dismal markets of the early 2000s. Improved corporate profits, low interest rates and efforts to improve corporate governance have led the way, despite recent scandals in the mutual funds industry. Meanwhile, the investment industry is increasingly a global business. This is partly due to the needs of multinational corporations to list their stocks or issue debt in more than one nation. For example, ADRs (American Depository Receipts) are increasingly popular instruments. Cross-border investments and acquisitions continue at a rapid pace. Discount brokerages are enjoying improved levels of trading, while investment banks are developing new ways to create lucrative fees. This carefully-researched book (which includes a database of leading companies on CD-ROM) is a complete investments, securities and asset management market research and business intelligence tool -- everything you need to know about the business of investments, including: 1) Investment banking, 2) Stock brokers, 3) Discount brokers, 4) Online brokers, 5) Significant trends in financial information technologies, 6) Asset management, 7) Stock ownership by individuals and households, 8) 401(k)s and pension plans, 9) Mutual funds, 10) ETFs (Exchange traded funds), 11) ECNs (Electronic Communication Networks), 12) Developments at the NYSE and other exchanges. The book includes a complete chapter of vital industry statistics, an industry glossary, a complete list of industry contacts such as industry associations and government agencies, and our in-depth profiles of more than 300 leading firms in the investment and asset management business. A CD-ROM database of these firms is included with the book.