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Category: Topical Research

Periodic articles that identify, analyze and interpret relevant topics of interest to sustainable investors and other interested stakeholders. Recent examples include efforts to allow underlying investors in a mutual fund or ETF to express their views on proxy voting. 

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Sustainable ultra-short bond funds

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable ultra-short bond funds can serve to offset the expected lower income from money funds by offering a modestly higher yielding alternative. Short-term interest rates are declining after two interest rate cuts so far this year The Federal Reserve’s quarter-point interest rate cut this week and the September 18, 2024 larger than […]

Sustainable Investing Monitor-October 1, 2024

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable fund assets expanded due to capital appreciation, fund launches remain moribund, sustainable bond volume dips and ESG indices reflected mixed results. Long-Term Net Assets:  Sustainable Mutual Funds and ETFs Focused sustainable long-term fund assets under management attributable to mutual funds and ETFs (excluding money market funds), 1,412 funds/share classes in total […]

Sustainable Investing Monitor-September 1, 2024

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable fund assets expanded with the benefit of capital appreciation, fund launches remained anemic while the relative performance of ESG indices rebounded. Long-Term Net Assets:  Sustainable Mutual Funds and ETFs  Focused sustainable long-term fund assets under management attributable to mutual funds and ETFs (excluding money market funds), 1,433 funds/share classes in total, […]

Sustainable Investing Trends Monitor-August 1, 2024

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable fund assets expanded modestly with outflows, sustainable bond issuance declined in Q2, selected ESG indices underperformed, and fund launches remained anemic. Long-Term Net Assets:  Sustainable Mutual Funds and ETFs  Focused sustainable long-term fund assets under management attributable to mutual funds and ETFs (excluding money market funds), 1,451 funds/share classes in total, […]

Performance wrap-up – June 2024

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable investment funds registered a modest 0.47% average gain in June, following a strong 3.8% May increase, supported by stocks and bonds. The S&P 500 continued to register gains in June, rising 3.6% Fueled by enthusiasm for AI and expected interest-rate cuts before the end of the year in the light of […]

Sustainable Investing Monitor-July 1, 2024

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable fund assets expanded modestly, sustainable bond issuance remains strong, ESG relative performance results were positive, but fund launches were still anemic. Long-Term Net Assets:  Sustainable Mutual Funds and ETFs  Focused sustainable long-term fund assets under management attributable to mutual funds and ETFs (excluding money market funds), 1,454 funds/share classes in total, […]

Sustainable Investing Monitor-June 1, 2024

The Bottom Line:  Sustainable fund assets expanded due to market, social bond issuance was strong, ESG relative performance results were positive, but fund launches suffered. Long-Term Net Assets:  Sustainable Mutual Funds and ETFs  Focused sustainable long-term fund assets under management attributable to mutual funds and ETFs (excluding money market funds), 1,475 funds/share classes in total, […]

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