December 21, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Vanguard has
launched three new index funds which seek to track the MSCI
US Large Cap 300 Index, MSCI US Large Cap Growth Index, and
MSCI US Large Cap Value Index.
ETF Shares of
the Vanguard Mega Cap 300 Index Fund (MGC), Vanguard
Mega Cap 300 Growth Index Fund (MGK), and Vanguard Mega Cap
300 Value Index Fund (MGV) have begun trading on NYSE Arca,
according to a press release. The ETF shares will have an
expense ratio of 0.13%.
Institutional Shares of the new funds can be purchased
directly from Vanguard, and will feature an expense ratio
of 0.08% for investments of $5 million or more, the release
said.
The new funds are managed by Vanguard Quantitative Equity
Group, which oversees more than $545 billion in indexed
assets.
This week, I’ve decided to honor reader requests –
and a long-standing NewsDash holiday tradition – by asking,
What’s your favorite holiday movie?
Once again, it was “nip and tuck” throughout
the day – and once again, it was ”
It’s a Wonderful Life
” vying with ”
A Christmas Story
” for top spot.
And this time the winner is….(drum roll, please) “It’s a
Wonderful Life”!
That’ right, the Jimmy Stewart classic recaptured the
number one spot with 20% of the responses, just ahead of
the 16.9% registered on behalf of “A Christmas Story.”
In fact, “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been the favorite of
NewsDash readers every year of the past six years except
for
2006
.
As one reader noted,
“How can anyone not be moved by Jimmy Stewart’s
portrayal of a good man struggling to overcome life’s
challenge? Better still, he succeeds with the help of
others returning his kindness. Yes, it takes Clarence the
Angel to help him see the way, but that is the essence of
the spirit of Christmas. Miracles happen!”
Another noted,
“I miss the days when you could find it on at least
one channel at any time during the month of
December.”
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
(”
Who doesn’t have an “Eddie” in the
family!”
noted one reader) remained firmly ensconced in third place
(8.9%), but only barely ahead of ”
A Miracle on 34
th
Street
” (8.4%) – the traditional 1947 version with Natalie Wood,
by the way.
”
White Christmas
” managed to hold on to its traditional fifth place finish
(that’s four years in a row), while ”
A Christmas Carol
” (Alistair Sim version – it was actually called ”
Scrooge
“) was a distant sixth (it had tied with “White Christmas”
last year at fifth) – tied with ”
Holiday Inn
” in this year’s survey (that had also been tied for fifth
last year, but tied for seventh in 2005).
”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
” (the cartoon version) tied with ”
Love, Actually
” for eighth, both just ahead of ”
A Charlie Brown Christmas
.”
Other films that got more than one vote in this week’s
survey were; Die Hard, The Polar Express, A Christmas Carol
(George C. Scott version), Elf, The Year Without a Santa
Claus, Bad Santa, The Bishop’s Wife (the Cary Grant
version, apparently – though there was a more recent entry
with Denzel Washington), The Santa Clause, The Bells of St.
Mary’s, A Christmas Carol (Mr. Magoo version), A
Miracle on 34th Street (the new one), A Muppet’s
Christmas Carol, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (yes, it’s
about Thanksgiving – but I said favorite HOLIDAY movie),
The Ref, Scrooged, and The Toy That Saved Christmas.
Once again, it was a tough choice for many.
One noted,
"After I stared at the selections for five minutes,
and realizing that you really can't pick more than one
(clever, Nevin!) I settled for the last movie I saw, 'Polar
Express.'"
As one reader noted,
"No...No...Not that dreadful
question....AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!"
In fact, most of the 7.6% who chose other basically chose
"others" - unable to pick just one.
Just about every single fan of "A Christmas Story"
accompanied their response with the quote,
"You'll shoot your eye out!!!"
Several readers were impressed with the breadth of
choice in this year's survey.
One noted,
"I thought I was a serious Christmas movie watcher, but
I can see from your list that I am an amateur. I better
start watching more than one a night."
Another noted,
"It was a hard choice to pick just one. I also never
miss 'White Christmas,' 'Miracle on 34th Street'
(traditional), 'Christmas Carol' with George C. Scott, and
'It's a Wonderful Life.' I watched one the other night
called 'Angel in the Family' that may become one of my
must-sees in the future. I never realized there were so
many until I saw your listing.
Where did you get some of these?"
For the record, the list was drawn from the submissions
readers have turned in as favorites over the years.
If the results of the survey have been remarkably
consistent over the years, some readers have seen their
favorites - evolve:
"When I was young and saw the world through rose-colored
glasses, it was definitely 'It's a Wonderful Life';
then, as I settled into my 30's, and having started a
family of my own, my preference changed to 'A Christmas
Story.' Now that I am in my 40's and more 'jaded,' It
has got to be 'Christmas Vacation.' I can relate to most of
the situations Clark finds himself in, and that dang
squirrel gets me every time!"
"No matter how many times I have watched it, National
Lampoon's 'Christmas Vacation' makes me laugh out
loud,"
noted another.
"On years when Christmas is a small affair, it reminds
me why we haven't invited people over, and on years
when extended family will be joining me, the movie helps me
remember that it could always be worse."
Last year's Editor's Choice came in slightly modified;
"And in my long-standing tradition for a second year
(slightly altered): It's a wonderful life when you have
a miracle on 34th street that let's you experience a
white Christmas in Connecticut at the Holiday Inn. Merry
Christmas to all and to all a good night."
One "Elf" fan observed,
"How can you not like a movie that defines the major
food groups as "candy, candy canes, candy corn, and
syrup"?"
Another reader noted,
"Bad Santa reminds me of a good day at my office -
politics included."
One reader - apparently looking for a "good" Santa -
noted,
"Dear Santa: I have been good this year, and I would
like a Guardian Angel that is handsome, suave, and urbane,
like Cary Grant in 'The Bishop's Wife.' Scratch that,
I'd rather have a boyfriend that is handsome, suave,
and urbane like Cary Grant. Thank you."
But
this
week's
Editor's Choice
goes to the "Miracle on 34
th
Street" fan who said,
"Like Natalie, we all want to believe."
Here's to
believing!
Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey!