Call it a fight over conflicting ideological screening methods or a backlash against a backlash. But, regardless of the initial label, a major political battle over environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles is gathering steam. As conservative U.S. states fall in line against the usage of ESG principles for public pension investments, 13 state treasurers… Read More >>
Greenwashing Crackdowns Should Spur ESG Funds Review: Q&A
(For financial services firms, the term “greenwashing” refers to misleading marketing about investments based upon Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability concerns. The practice has been getting a lot of attention recently as major media have reported upon a raid by German authorities of Deutsche Bank’s DWS offices in an effort to gather evidence… Read More >>
BNY Mellon Unit & SEC Resolve ESG Omissions Case
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser (BNYMIA) is paying a $1.5 million penalty to the SEC to settle charges that it made “misstatements and omissions” about the mutual fund reviews that were intended to verify whether environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns were considered when investment decisions were made. As the SEC explains in its order, its… Read More >>
ESG Boosts Client Engagement via Social Media: Q&A
(A survey conducted by digital client engagement vendor Hearsay Systems, which focuses on financial services markets, has revealed that “principles-based messaging” is achieving the highest engagement rates for financial services firms, particularly financial advisors and agents. Such messaging refers to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, and efforts to involve more women and more diversity… Read More >>
Is ESG Blurring Too Many Lines?
ESG-based investing efforts and their related operational adjustments are getting real for many securities firms. And the ESG push is beginning to blur many lines that many never questioned before. For those who have not been following ESG too closely, the Investopedia website offers a succinct definition: “Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are a… Read More >>
E.U. Leads U.S. in ESG Regulatory Guidance: Report
A new report just might provide a reality check for the recent commentary about climate change, the financial services industry, and regulators in America and around the world. But there’s a catch. According to the report, the United States “has a number of significant financial regulators and a far more complex regulatory landscape than the… Read More >>
BNY Mellon Helps Gauge ESG Levels of Collateral
BNY Mellon clients can now apply environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns to their collateral management choices via a capability for rating the ESG levels of securities that was added to BNY Mellon’s ESG Data Analytics offerings. The new capability is based upon access to MSCI ESG Ratings, according to BNY Mellon officials. The ESG… Read More >>
Broadridge Dashboard Offers ESG Views of Companies: Q&A
(Post-trade systems, services, and software provider Broadridge Financial Solutions recently launched the Broadridge ESG Performance Dashboard, an effort that is intended to present investors and shareholders with a wide view of companies and their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings, officials say. ESG criteria “are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially… Read More >>
