Stocks and bonds register steep declines in September 2022
The Bottom Line: Registering their steepest 2022 declines so far, stocks and bonds dropped 9.21% and 3.48% while ESG indices continued to narrow outperformance spread. Stocks and bonds registered their steepest monthly declines so far this year in September The reality of higher interest rates that are now expected to continue well into 2023 (the […]
Q&A: What is ESG investing and ESG integration?
The Bottom Line: ESG investing has morphed from ESG integration to encapsulate socially responsible investing considerations. Lack of standards has led to widespread misunderstanding and confusion. Introduction ESG investing is a term that morphed over the last several years from ESG integration, a particular form of sustainable investing strategy, to encapsulate various approaches making up sustainable […]
Green bond funds suffer withdrawals in September
The Bottom Line: Green bond funds sustained their worst monthly decline in net assets while preliminary green bonds issuance data in September show another again. September Summary The segment of green bond funds, consisting of four mutual funds and three ETFs, sustained its worst monthly decline in net assets in September. Net assets dropped by […]
Performance advantage of ESG screened indices is narrowing
The Bottom Line: Long-term performance through September continues to support portfolios informed by or indexed to ESG screened international benchmarks, however, their advantage is narrowing. 0:00 / 0:00 Intermediate-to-long-term performance differential: Selected ESG screened indices vs. conventional indices: Trailing 3, 5 and 10-years to September 30, 2022Notes of Explanation: The six MSCI ESG indices include […]
The S&P 500 dropped 4.1% in August while equity oriented ESG screened indices underperformed
The Bottom Line: While long-term results continue to support ESG screened benchmarks, the positive spreads posted by these indices relative to conventional benchmarks are shrinking. The S&P 500 dropped 4.1% in August while equity oriented ESG screened indices underperformed The S&P 500 gave up 4.1% in August while bonds, as measured by the Bloomberg US […]
Green bond funds attract assets even as performance has been deeply in the red
The Bottom Line: Gains in assets over the last four months shows investor confidence in green bonds even as performance has been in the red. August Summary Assets attributable to the segment of green bond funds, four mutual funds and three ETFs, gained $63.2 million in net assets during the month of August to reach […]
Sustainable stock and bond funds post an average gain of 6.5% in July
The Bottom Line: Stocks and bonds were up while sustainable mutual funds and ETFs posted an average 6.50% total return, led by renewable energy funds. Stocks started the third quarter in better form after the declines suffered in the first half of the year with US stocks adding 9.2% and bonds posting a gain of […]
Green bond funds reverse course in July 2022
The Bottom Line: Green bond funds reverse course in July 2022 while green bond volumes are are expected to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act. July Summary Assets attributable to green bond funds, a segment consisting of four mutual funds and three ETFs, reversed a four-month decline in net assets largely due to capital depreciation. […]