AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) has launched as plastic waste transition fund that targets UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 – responsible consumption and production. The AXA WF ACT Plastic & Waste Transition Equity QI fund, which is managed by AXA IM’s equity QI team, invests in large-, mid- and small-cap companies across developed and … Read more
The investment industry is asking the UK government to align its net-zero plans with that of the industry’s off the back of Conservative MP Chris Skidmore’s review. The former energy minister today published Mission Zero – Independent Review of Net Zero in which he urges the government to do more to engage with businesses on … Read more
European stock exchange group Euronext has launched a “trailblazing” index that invests only in SBF 120 companies that have 1.5°C Paris-aligned emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The CAC SBT 1.5° uses negative screening and SBTi data to identify companies and said it will “evolve to integrate new EU regulations … Read more
Sustainability experience at board level has jumped in the last six months, research by EY has found, as companies respond to investor demand for the knowledge among senior leadership. Just under a third (32%) of companies currently have board directors with professional experience or expertise in sustainability, the latest EY Boardroom Monitor found. While still … Read more
Louisiana Salge, head of sustainability, EQ Investors For 2023, all eyes will be on stewardship to make sure the various asset manager commitments made in the past year regarding ending deforestation, net-zero emissions and acting on cost of living, are grounded in real-life change. To demonstrate this, we would like to see stewardship reporting move … Read more
While UK equities are starting to appear attractive again to fund managers of sustainable strategies, there are still a number of headwinds for investors in 2023 – inflation, consumer demand and slowing global growth to name a few. However, companies focused on plastic reduction, the energy transition and digitisation have the potential to offer attractive … Read more
Investment firms have the opportunity to “bridge the gap” between disabled people’s access to finance by offering “proactive support to IFAs”, a City Hive study has found. Disabled people in the UK make up 21% of the working population and more than 40% of pension age. These numbers will rise due to changing demographics, longer … Read more
Morningstar Sustainalytics, which provides ESG research, ratings and data, has appointed Yayoi Asazuma as director of client relations, effective 1 January. Based in Singapore, she is responsible for meeting the needs of Morningstar’s institutional investor clients across Singapore, Malaysia and other countries in southeast Asia. “We are delighted to appoint Yayoi to Morningstar Sustainalytics’ Singapore … Read more
Australia has picked up where it left off by issuing a fine against a listed company for greenwashing only a few months after the securities regulator announced the first infringement notice for the practice. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said last week that Black Mountain Energy, an ASX-listed resources company, paid A$39,960 ($27,592.2) … Read more
Bridges Fund Management has hired Fenglin Zhao as a director in its client and strategy development team. The hire is part of plans to attract more investors to impact investing, said the fund house, which invests exclusively in the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy. Zhao will be responsible for developing and overseeing … Read more