Words Make a Difference….Especially When It Comes to Sustainable Investing
Without the adoption of formal sustainable investing standards and the creation of mutual fund/ETF classifications, decision making on the part of investors will remain inhibited. I. Introduction When Henry Shilling and I published the research paper “Rapid Growth in ESG Funds Calls for Adoption of Standards” on standards and classifications, in May of 2020, there […]
Sustainable Investing Monitor-February 1, 2024
The Bottom Line: Fund’s net assets declined in January, also recording positive relative performance, while new fund launches lagged and sustainable bonds gain in 2023.
Chart of the Week – February 12, 2024
The Bottom Line: The worst ten performing funds in January, all thematic ETFs and ETNs focusing on renewable energy, posted an average decline of 22.4%. Notes of Explanation: Universe of sustainable funds includes mutual funds and ETFs. Funds are listed in descending order of performance based on January 2024 results. Volatility, which is not […]
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 […]
Start up exchange launched for buying and selling proxy voting rights
The Bottom Line: A start-up exchange for the buying and selling of proxy voting rights, Shareholder Vote Exchange, is a two-edged sword for sustainable investors. Corporate engagement and shareholder actions dominate across the various sustainable investing strategies worldwide Active approaches to voting on proxies and shareholder proposals are some of the strategies employed by investors […]
Chart of the Week – January 29, 2024
The Bottom Line: Sustainable investors with a greater tolerance for risk with cash can take advantage of higher returns available in short-term and ultrashort funds. Sustainable short-term, ultrashort and money market funds returns and volatility: 2023 Notes of Explanation: Average 12-month return and volatility applicable to sustainable short-term bond funds adjusted for one fund’s […]
Chart of the Week – January 22, 2024
The Bottom Line: Sustainable actively managed taxable bond funds gained an average of 7% in 2023, while returns by category ranged from 4.4% to 12.3%. Sustainable actively managed taxable fixed income funds by category: 1-M and 12-M TR% 2023Notes of Explanation: Average total return performance results apply to taxable actively managed sustainable fixed income mutual […]
Stock and bond fund investors benefited from a rebound in 2023
The Bottom Line: Investors who held on to stocks after the decline of 18% in 2022 were rewarded but bond investors need more recovery time. Markets continued to rally in December and equities in particular delivered unexpectedly strong gains in 2023 Markets continued to rally in December, fueled by the combination of a strong economy […]