Original, independent, thought leadership

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… Continue reading about June stock market results bring on the worst first-half year in more than 50 years

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… Continue reading about Bonds tumble 2.78% while large cap stocks gain 3.71% in March 2022

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… Continue reading about Uninvestability of Russian stocks and bonds affects ESG and conventional fund investors

Research

Research and analysis to keep sustainable investors up to-date on a broad range of topics that include trends and developments in sustainable investing and sustainable finance, regulatory updates, performance results and considerations, investing through index funds and actively managed portfolios, asset allocation updates, expenses, ESG ratings and data, company and product news, green, social and sustainable bonds, green bond funds as well as reporting and disclosure practices, to name just a few.

A continuously updated Funds Directory is also available to investors.  This is intended to become a comprehensive listing of sustainable mutual funds, ETFs and other investment products along with a description of their sustainable investing approaches as set out in fund prospectuses and related regulatory filings.

Getting started

Many questions have surfaced in recent years regarding sustainable and ESG investing.  Here, investors and financial intermediaries will find materials that describe the various approaches to sustainable investing and their implementation.  While sustainable investing approaches vary and they have thus far defied universally accepted definitions, many practitioners agree that they fall into the following broad categories:  Values-based investing, investing via exclusions, impact investing, thematic investments and ESG integration.  In conjunction with each of these approaches, investors may also adopt various issuer engagement procedures and proxy voting practices.  That said, sustainable investing approaches will continue to evolve.

In addition to periodic updates regarding sustainable investing and how this form of investing is evolving, investors and financial intermediaries interested in implementing a sustainable investing approach will also find source materials that cover basic investing themes as well as asset allocation tactics.

Inesting ideas

Thoughts and ideas targeting sustainable investing strategies executed through various registered and non-registered sustainable investment funds and products such as mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), closed-end funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). Coverage extends to investment management firms as well as fund groups. 

Independent source for sustainable investment management company research, analysis, opinions and sustainable fund disclosure assessments