HONG KONG -- (Marketwire) -- 06/14/11 -- Today, www.WorldStreetFundamentals.com released its industry report highlighting Cowen Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: COWN) and LaBranche & Co. Inc. (NYSE: LAB). Full fundamental and technical analysis is available at www.WorldStreetFundamentals.com/Reports.php.

The first quarter of 2011, for the brokerage and investment banking sector, reflected improvement in underwriting and advisory trends. According to Thomson Reuters, global investment banking fees rose 8% and global announced M&A activity increased 55% from the first quarter of 2010. There is evidence of institutional clients increasing activity at major brokerages in the wake of greater volatility in global financial markets. It is also expected that retail institutional investors continue to re-engaging into risky assets, especially equities. There is a clear shift in asset allocation preferences among mutual fund investors out of fixed income and into equities that we see continuing through 2011.

World Street Fundamentals has highlighted Cowen Group, Inc. because it is an investment bank that provides research, sales and trading, and investment banking services to companies and institutional investor clients in the healthcare, technology, telecommunications, alternative energy, consumer and aerospace & defense sectors. The Ramius business unit will operate the combined company's alternative investment management business, and the Cowen and Company business unit will continue to run the Company's investment banking franchise, as well as its research and brokerage capabilities. The entire report on Cowen Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: COWN) is available here: www.WorldStreetFundamentals.com/ViewFullReport.245.php.

World Street has featured LaBranche & Co. Inc. as the parent company of LaBranche Structured Holdings, Inc. (LSHI), the holding company for a group of entities that are market-makers in options, futures and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) traded on various exchanges. LSHI's subsidiaries are LaBranche Structured Products, LLC (LSP), LaBranche Structured Products Europe Limited (LSPE), LaBranche Structured Products Hong Kong Limited (LSPH), LaBranche Structured Products Direct, Inc. (LSPD) and LaBranche Structured Products Specialists LLC (LSPS). The entire report on LaBranche & Co. Inc. (NYSE: LAB) is available here: www.WorldStreetFundamentals.com/ViewFullReport.138.php.

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World Street Fundamentals is an online portal for professionals, investors and new-comers to the markets to find in depth comprehensive research and research tools to help guide you through the ever changing financial markets. Covering the top performers in the hottest sectors and providing clarity to investors around the world.