This the eleventh edition of an occasional linkfest focused on ESG or socially responsible investing at Abnormal Returns. You can check out the previous set of links including a look at the new California law mandating female corporate board members.
Quote of the Day
"It’s [ESG] an opportunity for the financial-services industry to make a positive contribution to society, to more fully serve a fuller range of its clients’ needs, beyond its already noble role of enhancing the individual security of savers.
(Don Phillips)
ETFs
- "The 48 ETFs on the market together have just $5.3 billion in combined assets, less than 0.15% of the $3.7 trillion U.S. ETF industry." (wsj.com)
- A deep dive on the ESG criteria Vanguard's new ETFs utilize. (morningstar.com)
- Blackrock ($BLK) is pushing deeper into the ESG space including iShares Sustainable Core. (thinkadvisor.com)
Investing teams
- The Institutional Investor All-America Research Team has shown no growth in female award winners over time. (institutionalinvestor.com)
- Gender diverse investment teams just make sense. (blogs.cfainstitute.org)
- These research firms have the highest percentage of women on staff. (institutionalinvestor.com)
Gender issues
- 21% of female Y Combinator founders have felt harassed by investors. (buzzfeednews.com)
- The presence of other women makes completing a PhD more likely. (papers.ssrn.com)
- Which California companies are going to have a hard time meeting their board of director diversity obligations. (priceonomics.com)
Trends
- Larry Fink, "Sustainable investing will be a core component for how everyone invests in the future...We are only at the early stages." (ft.com)
- A Q&A with Lisa Woll, CEO of US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. (barrons.com)
- The bear case for ESG investing going mainstream any time soon. (qz.com)
- ESG is still in its infancy in Asia. (ft.com)
- Sustainability as a 'mega-trend.' (morningstar.com)
ESG
- Why index fund providers are uniquely positioned to push for change at companies. (barrons.com)
- Advisors need to listen for cues that clients are interested in ESG strategies. (morningstar.com)
- ESG stock strategies tend to have longer holding periods. (ft.com)
- Why you should expect to see more ESG options in 401(k) plan offerings. (marketwatch.com)
- Pension funds are becoming more woke when it comes to the practices of PE-owned firms. (nytimes.com)
- Norway and its SWF have a unique relationship with oil. (institutionalinvestor.com)