Considering environmental, social and governance factors has traditionally been associated with equities, but demand for ESG in fixed income is starting to outstrip the supply of products available, according to new research by Cerulli Associates focused on Europe. “The inclusion of ESG factors in fixed income is becoming more widespread, with ESG data and ratings […]
When looking for equity investments, how do changes in a company’s environmental, social and governance profile impact its stock price? This month, MSCI released a report called How Markets Price ESG, which found that changes in a companies’ ESG profile have been predictive of changes in stock prices. The study also found that equity markets […]
In the midst of financial literacy month, what does member education look like in a defined benefit world where members don’t have to actively make investment choices? And how much do members need to understand about investments? While financial literacy is important, DB plans allow members to prepare for retirement without being financial experts themselves, […]
While 50 per cent of U.S.-based institutional investors currently don’t invest sustainably, 52 per cent said they plan to either maintain or increase their allocations to sustainable investment over the next three years, according to a recent survey by SEI Investments Co. In terms of sustainability issues, investors are most interested in renewable energy (58 per cent), followed […]
In 2018, there have been over 250,000 unique English articles focused on ESG issues across 8,000 companies according to data from TruValue Labs. But how does public sentiment influence the market pricing of firms’ sustainability activities? Harvard Business School Professor George Serafeim explores the relationship between public sentiment and how markets value corporate sustainability activities […]
Major extremes of wealth and poverty have the potential to destabilize the financial and social systems in which institutional investors operate, and should be treated as a long-term risk like any other, according to a new report by the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Investing. Between 1988 and 2008, 44 per cent of rises in global […]
The OPSEU Pension Trust, together with British private equity firm Three Hills Capital Partners, has invested more than $89 million into ACT Commodities. The Dutch firm specializes in trading commodities related to reducing the use of fossil fuel and emissions of greenhouse gases. “In nine years, we have built the world’s preeminent trading house for […]
La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is launching an initiative to support the growth of companies owned by women. The program, Cheffes de file, will invite selected women entrepreneurs in Quebec who are leading promising companies, specifically decision-makers and shareholders of companies with sales ranging from $5 to $20 million. Functioning as a […]
Ryan Labs Asset Management Inc., a Sun Life Investment Management company, has signed on to the United Nations-supported principles for responsible investment. As a network of independent investment professionals, signatories of the PRI are proponents of responsible investing. Read: Survey finds larger asset managers more likely to dedicate resources to ESG “Becoming a signatory of the […]
The International Centre for Pension Management has released a guide for integrating climate change considerations into investment processes. “The ICPM climate change guide is unique from others of its kind because it was written by asset owners for asset owners,” said Deborah Ng, director of strategy and risk at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and […]