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Green investment funds-An update

The bottom line:  A newly launched green bond ETF expands segment, giving investors another sustainable bond fund option to consider in their core bond segment. Support endures for green bond mutual funds and ETFs A signal in support of green bond funds was on display last month when a new green bond fund, the Carbon […]

Green bond funds rebounded in 2023

The Bottom Line: Green bond funds, which continue to offer sustainable investors exposure to investments that promote climate change mitigation or adaptation, rebounded in 2023.  Green bond funds end the year with $1.5 billion in assets, experiencing limited outflows Green bond funds, the segment of thematic bond funds consisting of eight funds, five mutual funds/28 […]

Green bond funds update-April 2023

The Bottom Line:  April 2023 green bond fund performance results favored passively managed funds investing in US dollar denominated securities and featuring low expense ratios. Observations: Green bond funds, the segment of thematic bond funds consisting of five mutual funds/28 share classes and three ETFs that offer investors exposure to environmental projects and investments while […]

Green bond funds held steady in 2022

The Bottom Line:  Green bond funds held steady in 2022 and are expected to benefit from moderating conditions and increased sustainable bonds issuance in 2023. December Summary Investors didn’t abandon green bond funds in 2022 even in the light of posting an average decline of 13.5%, excluding the Franklin Municipal Green Bond Fund (FLMB), versus […]

Green bond funds add assets following two months of declines

The Bottom Line:  Reversing two consecutive months of declines, thematic green bond funds gained $29.4 million in November 2022 while total return performance lagged benchmarks. November Summary Reversing two months of declines in net assets under management, the segment of thematic green bond funds, consisting of four mutual funds and three ETFs that offer investors […]

Green bond funds experience withdrawals for the second consecutive month

The Bottom Line:  Favorable green bond fund results tend to converge around selected funds that are managed effectively and are offered at low-to-lower expense ratios. October Summary The small segment of thematic green bond funds, consisting of four mutual funds and three ETFs that offer investors exposure to environmental projects and investments while seeking market-based […]

Green bond funds suffer withdrawals in September

The Bottom Line:  Green bond funds sustained their worst monthly decline in net assets while preliminary green bonds issuance data in September show another again. September Summary The segment of green bond funds, consisting of four mutual funds and three ETFs, sustained its worst monthly decline in net assets in September.  Net assets dropped by […]

Green bond funds attract assets even as performance has been deeply in the red

The Bottom Line:  Gains in assets over the last four months shows investor confidence in green bonds even as performance has been in the red. August Summary Assets attributable to the segment of green bond funds, four mutual funds and three ETFs, gained $63.2 million in net assets during the month of August to reach […]

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