BMO Global Asset Management has become a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment Initiative.
Reporting proces to be implemented globally by end of 2012.
ESG investing—which considers environmental, social and/or governance issues in addition to financial performance—has reached a crossroads in recent years. What began as an investment approach predominantly oriented around social impacts has expanded to include a range of environmental and governance issues and is now attracting attention from mainstream investors primarily concerned with the associated financial […]
Canadian securities regulators expect improved environmental disclosure from the country’s reporting issuers and have released a guidance document towards meeting that goal. “Issuers are increasingly recognizing the current and potential effects on their performance and operations, both positive and negative, that are associated with environmental matters,” states the document, which was released Wednesday by the […]
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing is the way of the future, according to a report by State Street Corporation. The report, Sustainable Investing: Positioning for Long-Term Success, states that issues such as world population growth and climate change are transforming sustainability into “a material issue for companies and investors alike.” Investors are advised to […]
A study out of Europe has found that assets held in socially responsible investment (SRI) mandates have soared to €5 trillion, a “spectacular” 87% increase from €2.7 trillion euros in 2008—most of which are institutional funds. Eurosif’s 2010 study of European SRI assets breaks down responsible investment assets under management (AUM) to “core SRI” and […]
Responsible investment (RI) is increasingly gaining traction in the U.S. and Canada due, in part, to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI). At the joint F&C Investments and Jantzi-Sustainalytics seminar on Nov. 16 in Toronto, presenters shared their experiences of implementing the six principles—which were developed by an international group of institutional investors […]
As the global financial crisis carved its swath of destruction through the world’s economies, there were casualties in virtually every asset class. Only a small handful of investment categories emerged unscathed. One such outlier was microfinance, a niche market that, although a relatively new kid on the block, has great potential. In fact, Swiss-based BlueOrchard, […]
Two years ago, Canada’s socially responsible investing (SRI) community was in a cheerful, even celebratory mood. Many felt that a trickle-down effect from the pension world would provide a much-needed boost to the SRI retail sector. Fast forward to today. Investors have seen their portfolios ravaged by the credit crisis and subsequent stock market meltdown. […]
Two years ago, Canada’s socially responsible investing (SRI) community was in a cheerful, even celebratory mood. Many of the country’s major pension funds, particularly in the public sector, had reversed their position on sustainable investing, embracing the concept that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues do have an impact on a company’s bottom line and […]