Despite controversy and predictions of its death, principled investments based upon environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns are alive and kicking as evidenced by growing demands for ESG data. Also very much alive are artificial intelligence (A.I.) technologies, which could prove to be cost-effective for automated compliance and regulatory reporting, and for middle- and back-office… Read More >>
BNPP AM Launches Global Net Zero Equity Fund
BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) has launched the BNP Paribas Global Net Zero Transition Equity fund, a Luxembourg-domiciled equity fund that features “a strong focus on decarbonization and an overweight in sustainable investment,” officials say. The fund offers investors “exposure to a well-diversified strategy across sectors, regions, and market cap,” according to BNPP AM…. Read More >>
Will a ‘Tech Sprint’ Spur ESG Data Innovations?
Fixes for ESG data management challenges may arise during a “Tech Sprint,” launched by PIMFA WealthTech, a market network and technology platform created via a trade association and principal partner Morningstar. On March 5, they officially kicked off a “Tech Sprint” for innovations in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, particularly for ESG data management…. Read More >>
Regulators & Policies Decide ESG Plans for Pension Funds
Regulators and policymakers will have greater impacts on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment strategies of pension plans than the pushback against ESG investments, according to two recent reports. The findings about regulators and policymakers are based on the Amundi/CREATE-Research annual global survey of pension investors and their investing concerns. For the… Read More >>
Exchanges Take On Climate Change & Bells Will Ring
World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) officials are using the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai as a way to mobilize the exchange industry to bring attention to climate change and sustainability issues and to focus on how exchanges can help channel investments and financing to green initiatives. The WFE is a global industry group… Read More >>
TD Securities Picks Paxos Settlement & Other News
TD Securities to Settle Commodities via Paxos TD Securities is using a system from Paxos that simultaneously settles cash and commodities trades in an effort to achieve full automation for settlement and to streamline operations for traditional and digital precious metals trades, officials say. TD Securities joins many other firms that are part of Paxos… Read More >>
CFA & Others Collaborate to Define ESG Terms
Like other big and complex industries, the world of Wall Street has always had an inclination for acronyms, which are meant to simplify the sometimes complex terminology of “responsible investment.” In theory, one of the most recently adopted acronyms — ESG, which stands for environmental, social, and governance — should be the easiest to understand and… Read More >>
ESG Data Will Be Normalized for Investing: Q&A
(Paul Fahey, head of investment data science, asset servicing, Americas, Northern Trust, took questions from FTF News about the concerns that operations staff have about the environmental, social, and governance [ESG] data and factors that they are likely to encounter as part of their support for the investment process. In his post at Northern Trust,… Read More >>
Firms Want More ESG Data: Report
“More than nine in 10 executives plan to increase ESG data spend, but data linkage and managing multiple vendor feeds dilute value,” according to a recent survey by market data and news giant Bloomberg and market research firm Adox Research. Adox provides “advice and marketing for banks, asset managers, custodians, and tech providers.” “ESG,” as… Read More >>
Group Proposes Standards for the ‘E’ in ESG
While a major backlash is underway against investment strategies based upon environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) released in late June a proposal for global sustainability disclosure standards that could bring some clarity to investing based on environmental concerns — the “E” of ESG. If adopted, the standards will… Read More >>