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BlackRock adds to list of sustainable money market funds

BlackRock announces new money market fund: BlackRock Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund (LEAF) Adding to a small stable of sustainable money market funds as well as short-term funds, BlackRock announced on January 23, 2019 that it has filed an initial registration statement for the BlackRock Liquid Environmentally Aware Fund (LEAF), a prime type money market fund.  […]

Majority of New Fund Formations in 2018 Emphasize ESG Integration Strategies

90 new funds with $2.6 billion in assets launched in 2018    In 2018 new sustainable fund launches included some 90 funds, consisting of mutual funds and corresponding share classes as well as exchange traded funds (ETFs) that were valued at $2,588.8 million as of December 31, 2018.  These funds contributed to the growth in […]

Sustainable Investing Alerts: December 31, 2018

December 28, 2018 DUE DILIGENCE Alert: MODERATE COMPETITIVE Alert: 3 Event: Federated files to offer a global equity ESG mutual fund. Briefing Points: i) Federated new mutual fund will focus on providing long-term capital growth incorporating an assessment of quality and risk “associated with a company’s approach” to ESG issues, ii) The fund will be […]

Sustainable Investing Alerts: December 15, 2018

Affected Fund(s):  PGIM QMA Global Core Equity ESG Fund Asset Classes:  US and Non-US Equities Management Company:  PGIM Investments (Newark, NJ) DD Concern: New untested mandate Marketing Considerations:  This investing approach emphasizes a value-based strategy and avoids exclusions of industries and companies.  The integration of securities of companies with varying level of ESG ratings could […]

Sustainable Investing Alerts: November 30, 2018

November 30, 2018 DUE DILIGENCE Alert: LOW Event: M&G Investments offers new equity impact fund in the UK.Briefing Points: i) M&G Investments’ new fund’s selections will come from the MSCI All Country World Index of 2500 global stocks of companies operating in “countries where there are social issues,” ii) the fund will invest in companies […]

Sustainable Investing Alerts: November 1 – November 15, 2018

November 13, 2018 DUE DILIGENCE Alert: MODERATE COMPETITIVE Alert: 3 Event: HSBC Introduces Global Sustainable funds in the UK. Briefing Points: i) HSBC Global Asset Management (GAM) introduced two global sustainable funds, a multi-asset conservative portfolio and a multi-asset balanced portfolio. The funds are part of the established HSBC GAM multi-asset series, ii) The conservative […]

Sustainable Investing Alerts: October 16, 2018 – October 31, 2018

October 25, 2018 DUE DILIGENCE Alert: LOW COMPETITIVE Alert: 1 Event: New European ESG fund from Spanish insurer, Mapfre. Briefing Points: i) The Spanish insurance company, Mapfre, has opened a new ESG-responsible fund with an emphasis on capital preservation, ii) The new Luxembourg domiciled fund, which is part of a new line of Mapfre ESG […]

ESG Liquidity Fund Targeted to Institutional Investors Offered by DWS

Summary DWS launched an institutional money market fund that integrates environmental, social and governance considerations while at the same time employing exclusionary screens. This $329.3 million fluctuating Net Asset Value (NAV) fund contrasts with the stable value GuideStone Money Market Fund that pursues a values/religious-based approach.  Other significant differences extend to eligible security types, minimum […]

Research

Research and analysis to keep sustainable investors up to-date on a broad range of topics that include trends and developments in sustainable investing and sustainable finance, regulatory updates, performance results and considerations, investing through index funds and actively managed portfolios, asset allocation updates, expenses, ESG ratings and data, company and product news, green, social and sustainable bonds, green bond funds as well as reporting and disclosure practices, to name just a few.

A continuously updated Funds Directory is also available to investors.  This is intended to become a comprehensive listing of sustainable mutual funds, ETFs and other investment products along with a description of their sustainable investing approaches as set out in fund prospectuses and related regulatory filings.

Getting started

Many questions have surfaced in recent years regarding sustainable and ESG investing.  Here, investors and financial intermediaries will find materials that describe the various approaches to sustainable investing and their implementation.  While sustainable investing approaches vary and they have thus far defied universally accepted definitions, many practitioners agree that they fall into the following broad categories:  Values-based investing, investing via exclusions, impact investing, thematic investments and ESG integration.  In conjunction with each of these approaches, investors may also adopt various issuer engagement procedures and proxy voting practices.  That said, sustainable investing approaches will continue to evolve.

In addition to periodic updates regarding sustainable investing and how this form of investing is evolving, investors and financial intermediaries interested in implementing a sustainable investing approach will also find source materials that cover basic investing themes as well as asset allocation tactics.

Inesting ideas

Thoughts and ideas targeting sustainable investing strategies executed through various registered and non-registered sustainable investment funds and products such as mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs), closed-end funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). Coverage extends to investment management firms as well as fund groups. 

Independent source for sustainable investment management company research, analysis, opinions and sustainable fund disclosure assessments