Treasury halts trading in a TCW fund - WSJ

Dec 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department has halted trading in a fund established by TCW Group after the money manager dismissed its chief investment officer, Jeffrey Gundlach, the Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday.

Treasury officials can suspend trading in the fund if a 'key person' departs, the paper said, quoting Treasury spokeswoman Meg Reilly. She also said the Treasury was currently evaluating its options as an equity and debt investor in the fund.

TCW's flagship Total Return Bond Fund had more than $1 billion in redemptions on Monday, the Journal said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

TCW, a unit of Paris-based Societe Generale (SOGN.PA), fired Gundlach and ousted him from its board after buying a smaller rival, Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC, last week. [ID:nN06144262]

TCW and the Treasury were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by A.Ananthalakshmi in Bangalore; Editing by Greg Mahlich)