Amundi has launched a suite of funds across asset classes that aim to support the transition to net zero by 2050. The European asset manager said that although all its strategies are aiming to reduce their portfolios’ carbon intensity by 30% by 2025 and 60% by 2030 compared with 2019, it has decided to launch … Read more
Proposals in a consultation from the European Supervisory Authorities could have a “disruptive impact on the asset management industry” that leads to the reclassification of Article 8 and 9 funds. The ESA’s consultation is proposing significant changes to the sustainable finance disclosure regulation (SFDR) regulatory technical standards (RTS). Changes that will likely have a considerable … Read more
Gresham House has hired an investor director to identify energy storage opportunities for the alternative asset manager’s new energy division. Lefteris Strakosias will report to managing director and head of new energy Ben Guest and focus particularly on the firm’s flagship energy storage strategy, the Gresham House Energy Storage Fund. Strakosias brings more than 15 … Read more
Invesco has expanded its ETF offering with the launch of four global ESG tracker funds amid increased investor demand for sector-specific offerings. The strategies will track the performance of global sectors within the S&P Developed Ex-Korea Large Mid Cap ESG Enhanced Sector indices and are classified as Article 8 under the European Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. … Read more
Two organisations developing frameworks for financial disclosures for social and inequality-related risks are merging into a single initiative. The Taskforce on Inequality-related Financial Disclosures (TIFD) and Taskforce on Social-related Financial Disclosures (TSFD) are joining forces to design a disclosure framework similar to those established for climate and nature-related risks. The new taskforce will use third-party … Read more
AllianceBernstein (AB) has teamed up with the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Columbia Climate School (NCDP) to launch the updated version of a climate hazard risk toolkit for US investors. The Natural Hazards Index 2.0 is a free online dashboard tool that shows the risks of 14 different natural disasters materializing in any … Read more
We all know women are woefully under-represented in financial services and asset management, especially in more senior roles. The causes are many (but still less than the number of books written on the subject!) so let me not rehash them all. Instead, I’ll focus on one factor I’ve spent some time thinking about how to … Read more
AllianceBernstein has launched the AB Global ESG Improvers Portfolio. The new fund is managed by Jeremy Taylor (pictured) and employs a ‘transition and engagement strategy’ to make the companies it invests in become more sustainable. The approach is to buy discounted stocks that have high cashflow-based internal rates of return, that are either not recognised … Read more
The last 15 months were not short of new regulations and guidelines for ESG-related products. In addition, rating agencies and data providers reviewed their processes for the evaluation of ESG-related products. These initiatives have been driven by increasing expectations on how ESG factors should be integrated in the selection and portfolio management process of funds … Read more
In this two-part Green Dream video interview, Natalie Kenway, editor in chief at MA Financial, speaks to Alex Monk, portfolio manager in the global energy transition team at Schroders, about investing for a low-carbon future, avoiding fossil fuels and engagement. Watch the full video interview above and read the transcript below. NK: Hello and welcome to the … Read more