SEC plans to finalize four sustainable investing and disclosure rules in 2023
The Bottom Line: The SEC will finalize rules in 2023 covering corporate climate disclosures, executive compensation proxy voting, sustainable fund classifications and fund naming conventions. SEC sustainable investing and corporate disclosure rulemaking agenda for 2023 0:00 / 0:00 Listen to this article now Sources: SEC; Sustainable Research and Analysis LLC. Observations: On January 4, 2023, […]
Greenwashing incidents on the rise but likely overstated
The Bottom Line: References to greenwashing appear to be on the rise, but various considerations other than greenwashing may be contributing to the recent uptick. References to greenwashing are on the rise but likely overstated References to greenwashing appear to be on the rise, as illustrated by data along the lines captured by FactSet in […]
Can the U.S. Antitrust Laws Stop ESG investing?
Opinion: ESG is gaining traction as a political issue and in the process, arguments have surfaced that ESG initiatives may be subject to anti-competitive practices. The politicization of ESG investing is introducing additional business uncertainties and risks with financial consequences, including potential legal liabilities and reputational issues ESG investing is gaining traction as a political […]
Stocks, bonds and funds notched increases in November
The Bottom Line: Stocks, bonds and sustainable mutual funds and ETFs gained in November as well as all selected ESG screened indices across asset classes. Stocks, as measured by the large cap S&P 500 Index, added another 5.6% last month after registering a gain of 8.1% in October Stocks and bonds both notched increases in […]
Green bond funds add assets following two months of declines
The Bottom Line: Reversing two consecutive months of declines, thematic green bond funds gained $29.4 million in November 2022 while total return performance lagged benchmarks. November Summary Reversing two months of declines in net assets under management, the segment of thematic green bond funds, consisting of four mutual funds and three ETFs that offer investors […]
Stocks gained 8.1% in October, but bonds dropped 1.3% on higher rates
The Bottom Line: The outperformance of selected ESG indices continue to narrow and long-term results are expected to converge and align with their conventional counterparts. Stocks bounced back in October with a gain of 8.1% while bonds gave up 1.3% as interest rates rose Stocks bounced back in October, benefiting from corporate earnings reports that […]
What does the FTX debacle have to do with ESG?
The Bottom Line: The FTX Trading Ltd. debacle, like previous implosions due to governance failures and fraud, should give ESG integration skeptics pause for thought. Summary According to published accounts, the rapid bankruptcy filing of FTX Trading Ltd., an exchange for trading cryptocurrencies founded in 2020 by Sam Bankman-Fried, and more than 100 related entities, […]
Green bond funds experience withdrawals for the second consecutive month
The Bottom Line: Favorable green bond fund results tend to converge around selected funds that are managed effectively and are offered at low-to-lower expense ratios. October Summary The small segment of thematic green bond funds, consisting of four mutual funds and three ETFs that offer investors exposure to environmental projects and investments while seeking market-based […]