Sustainable stock and bond funds post an average gain of 6.5% in July
The Bottom Line: Stocks and bonds were up while sustainable mutual funds and ETFs posted an average 6.50% total return, led by renewable energy funds. Stocks started the third quarter in better form after the declines suffered in the first half of the year with US stocks adding 9.2% and bonds posting a gain of […]
June stock market results bring on the worst first-half year in more than 50 years
The Bottom Line: Stocks gave up 8.3% while bonds dropped 1.57% and sustainable funds posted an average -6.21% return around a wide range of outcomes. The broad stock market dropped 8.3% and recorded the second worst monthly decline so far this year Against a backdrop of high inflation expectations, rising interest rates, slowing growth and […]
Stocks and bonds recorded gains of 0.39% and 0.27% in May
The Bottom Line: Stocks and bonds eked out gains in May while the relative performance of selected sustainable equity and bond indices trailed conventional benchmarks. The broad stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, briefly traded in bear market territory but managed to eke out a narrow 0.39% gain in May The broad […]
Both stocks and bonds tumble in April 2022
The Bottom Line: Stocks and bonds experienced the worst month so far this year while the relative performance of sustainable equity and bond indices improve. Stocks and bonds suffer through the worst month so far this year Concerns and uncertainties ranging from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, inflation, interest rates, continued labor shortages, supply chain issues, COVID […]
Bonds tumble 2.78% while large cap stocks gain 3.71% in March 2022
The Bottom Line: Heightened volatility in recent months likely to test the resolve of investors but longer-term ESG strategies seem to preserve their value proposition. Bonds gave up 2.78% in March while large cap US equities posted a gain of 3.71% Concerns and uncertainties regarding the implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the potential […]
Another difficult month-February 2022
The Bottom Line: Another difficult month for stocks and bonds but returns posted by clean energy funds show value of patience and long-term investing horizon. Negative year-to-date results for stocks and bonds widened in February: S&P 500 -2.99% and Bloomberg Aggregate -1.12% A rough start to the year for both stocks and bonds was followed […]
Uninvestability of Russian stocks and bonds affects ESG and conventional fund investors
The Bottom Line: Both conventional and ESG fund investors may be exposed to Russian securities that have declined in value primarily in emerging market funds. The Russian invasion of Ukraine led to suspensions in trading and likely modest portfolio losses in some active and passively managed funds primarily focused on emerging markets The Russian invasion […]
Rough start to the year January 2022
The Bottom Line: January 2022 has been rough for both stocks, bonds and selected sustainable indices that continue offering value in the intermediate and long-term. Concerns about inflation, central bank tightening and tensions with Russia over Ukraine agitated markets in January and led to a sharp increase in volatility and negative results After delivering very […]