Tag: ESG investing

There are obstacles to good comparisons for environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments, but in a white paper, Karen Kaufman-White, investment research associate at Strategic Benefit Services, indicates she believes that over time, more robust data will become available, facilitating enhanced reporting capabilities and standardization.

This will drive broader growth in ESG, Cerulli Associates says.

Of the 12% of institutional investor respondents to a recent survey who have incorporated ESG, most are DC plans, and more than half are healthcare-focused organizations.

Northern Trust Creates Private Equity and Hedge Fund Service Group; Impax Introduces ESG-Focused Fund; OneAmerica to Offer Russell Investments Managed Accounts; and more.  

The firm will offer commission-free online transactions for specific funds. 

Yet, according to ClearPoint Financial Partners, the investing strategy only accounts for less than 1% of the $7.7 trillion U.S. defined contribution (DC) retirement market.  

A review of industry commentary dissecting the DOL’s recently published Field Assistance Bulletin on the topic of ESG investments suggests the “sub-regulatory guidance” has left a lot of stakeholders with key questions.

Data shared by FTSE Russell, taken from the firm’s annual smart beta survey, suggests the use of “multi-factor combination smart beta index-based investment strategies” by institutional investors has more than doubled since first measured in 2015.

TD Ameritrade Adds ESG Investment Models and First Trust Creates Index-Based ETF.

Russell Investments Discusses New ESG Finding; Merrill Lynch Brand Designs ESG Portfolios; and EDHEC-Risk Institute Examines Retirement Products and TDFs. 

"Based on our observations as managers of global fixed income portfolios, the integration of ESG factors and green bonds into the investment process can help investors reap opportunistic gains as well as defend returns,” Yvette Klevan with Lazard Asset Management says.

oekom Research Joins ISS, Renames Brand; T. Rowe Price Releases Multi-Strategy Fund; BNY Mellon Launches Core Plus Fund; and more.

Highlights from a new Natixis survey suggest reporting challenges continue to rank as top hurdle for institutions implementing ESG programs; this includes the concern that public companies may be “greenwashing” reported data to enhance their public image.

Voya Investment Management has become the latest signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment pledge, stepping right into a hot debate about the role of environmental and societal considerations in retirement plan investing.