Original, independent, thought leadership

November 2020 market update: Markets rally and ESG indices diverge

The Bottom Line: Markets rallied in November across the board; actively managed sustainable mutual funds outperformed their conventional benchmarks while ESG securities market indices lagged. November market commentary The broad stock market as measured by the S&P 500 rallied strongly in November, gaining 10.95%. The index recorded the best monthly gain since April of the […]

Sustainable indices turn in mixed results in October

The Bottom Line:  Markets ended lower for the second consecutive month in October while sustainable indices turn in mixed results relative to their conventional counterparts. Markets ended lower for the second consecutive month in October Even as economic data and corporate earnings posted improvements in October, markets ended lower for the second consecutive month as […]

ESG indices outperformed in September

The Bottom Line:  Uncertainties chipped away at August’s stock market 7.01% gain with a -3.80% decline in September while ESG indices across the board outperformed. Uncertainties chipped away at August’s 7.01% gain with a -3.80% decline in September Reversing course after August’s 7.01% gain, stocks turned negative in September due to growing concerns about the […]

Sustainable funds performance scorecard: August 2020       

The Bottom Line:  Thematic ETF equity index funds focused on clean energy, low carbon energy and alternative energy posted the best performance results in August. Summary Fueled by government stimulus, Federal Reserve liquidity and near zero interest rates, signs of an economic rebound and hopes for a coronavirus vaccine, the S&P 500 registered a strong […]

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