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For UK investors, 2022 had a distinctly Dickensian flavour, being both the best of times and the worst of times, the ultimate expression of bifurcation. If you had a focus on the FTSE 100 – an index whose performance was effectively supported by the aftershocks of the war in Ukraine, namely higher energy prices and … Read more
MSCI is set to distribute biodiversity data and analytical tools from NatureAlpha, an AI and data-driven platform providing specialist insights into nature footprints and risks. This, MSCI said, will help its clients better identify their exposure to higher-impact companies from a biodiversity risk perspective, better align companies’ activities with the Global Biodiversity Framework and provide … Read more
As companies continue to make efforts to achieve their climate and emission reductions goals, many may consider the purchase of carbon offsets or an equivalent instrument. However, the fragmented and bilateral nature of the voluntary carbon markets may cause potential purchasers to exercise caution when evaluating carbon offsets. There are concerns that market participants may … Read more
Responsible investors in Australia support the mandating of climate-related financial disclosures, including the disclosure of Scope 3 emissions, in order to prevent the region from “lag[ging] behind the rest of the world”. A consultation closed last Friday on the Australia government’s plans to mandate climate-related financial disclosure as a tool to manage the material risk … Read more
CEO pay has reached levels hundreds of times what median workers earn — a trend unaccompanied by financial outperformance, and one that many shareholders have rejected but the biggest fund companies have supported, a report has found. Last year, average pay among CEOs at S&P 500 companies was $18.8m, an increase of nearly 21% over … Read more
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has had a case filed against it by ClientEarth, which claims the financial regulator acted unlawfully in approving the prospectus of UK oil and gas company Ithaca Energy. The non-profit, which earlier this month filed a claim against Shell directors for failing to manage the material and foreseeable risks … Read more
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL)’s lead ESG analyst has revealed his top three funds taking a different approach to responsible investment. Ahead of the ISA deadline on 5 April, HL’s Dominic Rowles said responsible investment can be “good for your conscience, and good for your wealth”. Here are his three fund picks: Global – wide ranging investments … Read more
Article 9 funds should not invest in fossil fuels, French financial regulator the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has said. The way the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is being used can be misinterpreted by savers to mean that Article 8 or 9 funds are guaranteed to contribute to a more sustainable European economy, the regulator … Read more
The global sustainable bond market is expected to bounce back in sales this year, following a dip last year amid worsening credit conditions. Sales of those bonds – green, social, sustainable and sustainability-linked – are projected to reach $900bn to $1trn in 2023, which would put them just behind the sales levels seen in 2021, … Read more
The Hong Kong government has become the first government globally to issue a tokenised green bond offering. The HK$800m ($102.1m) one-year bond was priced at a coupon rate of 4.05% following a virtual roadshow through joint global coordinators, lead managers and bookrunners Bank of China (Hong Kong), Credit Agricole, Goldman Sachs and HSBC. The beneficial … Read more