Many investors believe the end of the current economic cycle is coming, according to Invesco’s latest global fixed income survey. While 49 per cent of respondents said they expect the current cycle to last one or two more years, a slim majority (52 per cent) of North American investors said it will end earlier. Investors in […]
In response to the International Organization of Pension Supervisors’ request for comments on developing guidance for pension funds around environmental, social and governance issues, the Pension Investment Association of Canada is suggesting some changes and calling for the removal of one of the draft guidelines. The PIAC noted the potential financial impact caused by ESG factors makes it […]
The Shareholder Association for Research and Education is joining the College of Applied Arts and Technology’s new DBPlus pension plan. “As a small, non-profit organization, it’s difficult for us to access the kinds of plans that have traditionally been available to larger organizations,” says Kevin Thomas, executive director of the SHARE. “So, like other non-profits, […]
While the pension industry is interested in environmental, social and governance factors, that isn’t translating into action when it comes to incorporating ESG funds into defined contribution plans’ investment options, according to a new report by Cerulli Associates. The report found, ESG-oriented investment options aren’t becoming too popular in the U.S. for three key reasons: fee […]
In 2017, New Jersey’s Police and Firemen’s Retirement System took a closer look at its investment in Nike Inc. following an advertising campaign featuring former National Football League player Colin Kaepernick, who had ignited controversy in 2016 by taking a knee during a pre-game national anthem in protest of the police treatment and killings of […]
The OPSEU Pension Trust is making an additional purchase of $100 million in Ontario government green bonds, bringing its allocation in the asset to about one per cent of its total holdings. The bonds are a tool the provincial government uses to finance transit and energy efficiency projects, according to the press release. “As a […]
Investment management firm Circulate Capital is adding to the diverse sets of guidelines emerging in recent years for institutional investors looking to deepen their considerations on impact investing. As an impact-focused firm specializing in infrastructure, Circulate Capital has taken on the mission of leveraging capital to stem the flow of plastic into the oceans. “We’ve […]
Since publicly listed equities usually make up the largest portion of institutional investor portfolios, it’s critical they aren’t left out of impact investing, said Deirdre Cooper, portfolio manager for global environment at Investec Asset Management Ltd. With the energy transition away from carbon-intensive sources already underway, a massive amount of capital still needs to be deployed to fully address […]
From the end of 2015 to the end of 2017, impact investing in Canada has grown by 81 per cent, representing $14.75 billion, according to a new report by the Responsible Investment Association. “Like any pre-teen, impact investing currently sits on the edge of youthful maturity,” said Kelly Gauthier, RIA board member and managing director of impact advisory at […]
Though the term ‘corporate social responsibility’ varies across companies and countries, it’s generally considered to be a form of organizational self-regulation focusing on an employer’s approach to sustainability across a variety of topics, such as environmental efforts, human rights, corporate governance, health and safety and economic development. Unilever’s sustainable living plan sets out ambitious targets […]