Have renewable energy funds reached bottom?
The Bottom Line: Beaten down prices of clean energy stocks and related securities may be approaching a buying opportunity for intermediate and long-term fund investors. Stocks and bonds continued to register declines in October Stocks fell for the third consecutive month in October, with large cap stocks giving up 2.1%, and lowering year-to-date and trailing… Continue reading about Have renewable energy funds reached bottom?
Sustainable Investing Monitor-November 2023
The Bottom Line: Sustainable fund assets declined by $9.3 billion in October, relative ESG performance was positive, but fund launches and sustainable bond issuances lagged. Net Assets: Sustainable Mutual Funds and ETFs Sustainable assets under management attributable to mutual funds and ETFs dropped to $305 billion in October due to market depreciation, for a… Continue reading about Sustainable Investing Monitor-November 2023
Sustainable Investing Monitor-October 2023
The Bottom Line: Assets attributable to sustainable mutual funds and ETFs declined to $315.6 billion in September, during which time performance and fund launches lagged. Net Assets: Sustainable Mutual Funds and ETFs New Sustainable Fund Launches Sustainable assets under management attributable to mutual funds and ETFs declined to $331.7 billion, for a month-over-month drop of… Continue reading about Sustainable Investing Monitor-October 2023
Labeling the Politics of ESG Funds
The Bottom Line: Critics of ESG investing exhibit a lack of knowledge and awareness of key features of sustainable investing specifically related to ESG integration. Introduction Increasingly, criticism of ESG investing has taken on a political tilt. These arguments often identify ESG funds as a means of ‘state control of the economy and of society’. … Continue reading about Labeling the Politics of ESG Funds
Fund closures ticked up in July 2023
The bottom line: ETF closures spiked in July, serving as a reminder that small-sized funds can potentially expose investors to the risk of untimely liquidation. Monthly sustainable ETF closures: January 2023 – July 2023 Sources: Morningstar Direct and Sustainable Research and Analysis. Observations: Sustainable ETF closures spiked up in July, reaching nine ETF closures… Continue reading about Fund closures ticked up in July 2023
Green bond fund investors stay the course
The Bottom Line: Green bond fund investors largely stay the course through July of this year, earning an average 3.1% year-to-date and 0.49% in July. Green bond funds total net assets: December 2022 – July 2023Notes of Explanation: Sources: Morningstar and Sustainable Research and Analysis LLC Observations: Following the pause in June, the Fed voted… Continue reading about Green bond fund investors stay the course
Fidelity and JPMorgan Chase received Very Good reputational scores in Axios Harris poll
The Bottom Line: The recently released Axios Harris reputational rankings poll includes two fund firms- Fidelity and JPMorgan Chase-that received Very Good overall reputational scores. Axios Harris Poll 100 Reputational Rankings-Financial Services Companies Source: Axios Harris Poll 100. Guide to scores: Purple-Excellent, Light blue-Very good, Green-Good, Yellow-Fair, Orange-Poor, and red-Very poor. Observations: The latest… Continue reading about Fidelity and JPMorgan Chase received Very Good reputational scores in Axios Harris poll
ISS reports jump in shareholder proposals fueled, in part, by anti-ESG initiatives
The Bottom Line: Anti ESG shareholder proposals have been rising, but challenges aside, companies are expected to continue to address relevant and material ESG risks. Observations: According to a report published on May 24, 2023, by ISS Corporate Solutions, the volume of shareholder proposals for annual meetings held between January 1, 2023 through May 31,… Continue reading about ISS reports jump in shareholder proposals fueled, in part, by anti-ESG initiatives