Sustainable Investing Monitor-September 2023
The Bottom Line: Sustainable funds’ net assets benefited from positive flows, new fund launches held up relative to 2022 while ESG fund indices lagged again. Sources: Morningstar Direct, Bloomberg, MSCI and Sustainable Research and Analysis
Sustainable Investing Monitor-August 2023
The Bottom Line: Relative performance results lagged again this month, as did fund formations and quarterly sustainable bond issuances, but sustainable mutual funds gained assets. Sources: Morningstar Direct, Bloomberg and Sustainable Research and Analysis
Inaugural standards issued by International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)
The Bottom Line: ISSB reporting standards covering sustainability-related risks and opportunities companies face over varying time intervals have the potential to achieve widespread adoption worldwide. International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), a unit of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), this week issued its inaugural reporting standards Following an intensive eighteen-month effort, the International Sustainability Standards […]
SEC plans to finalize four sustainable investing and disclosure rules in 2023
The Bottom Line: The SEC will finalize rules in 2023 covering corporate climate disclosures, executive compensation proxy voting, sustainable fund classifications and fund naming conventions. SEC sustainable investing and corporate disclosure rulemaking agenda for 2023 0:00 / 0:00 Listen to this article now Sources: SEC; Sustainable Research and Analysis LLC. Observations: On January 4, 2023, […]
Greenwashing incidents on the rise but likely overstated
The Bottom Line: References to greenwashing appear to be on the rise, but various considerations other than greenwashing may be contributing to the recent uptick. References to greenwashing are on the rise but likely overstated References to greenwashing appear to be on the rise, as illustrated by data along the lines captured by FactSet in […]
Can the U.S. Antitrust Laws Stop ESG investing?
Opinion: ESG is gaining traction as a political issue and in the process, arguments have surfaced that ESG initiatives may be subject to anti-competitive practices. The politicization of ESG investing is introducing additional business uncertainties and risks with financial consequences, including potential legal liabilities and reputational issues ESG investing is gaining traction as a political […]
Comments in response to the SEC’s proposal for enhanced ESG disclosure practices by funds
The Bottom Line: The proposal for enhanced ESG disclosures by funds is a step in the right direction but some modifications would strengthen the framework. The following response and recommendations were submitted on August 15, 2022 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for consideration in response to the SEC’s Enhanced Disclosures by Certain Investment […]
Investors should conduct due diligence even as SEC increases scrutiny of ESG funds
The Bottom Line: The increased SEC scrutiny of ESG funds will bolster confidence in sustainable investment products but investors should conduct their own due diligence. Introduction and summary On June 10, 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was conducting a civil investigation of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), […]