Morningstar Inc., Chicago, apparently has launched one heck of a popular Web site. Morningstar.Net already has registered more than 100,000 users and has drawn more than 9 million hits since going live March 31. The address is www.morningstar.net.
Users seem to be favoring the X-Ray View feature, which allows them to see at a glance how their fund choices fit together, as well as bulletin boards.
"We anticipated a high level of interest, but it has exceeded our expectations," said Joe Mansueto, Morningstar chairman and the driving force behind the company's Internet venture.
On the bulletin boards, the discussion forums are divided into main areas, topical forums and mutual funds/companies forums.
The site also includes reports on nearly 15,000 stocks and mutual funds and daily business news updates. The site is popular with 401(k) plan participants, said a spokeswoman.