Like everyone else, sustainable investment managers are pondering the artificial intelligence (AI) question. And while the answers might still be emergent, Pablo Berrutti, Stewart Investors portfolio specialist, said to date AI appears neutral from a sustainability perspective. “There are some positives and some negatives,” Berrutti said. For instance, AI might help improve batteries for electric… [Read More…]
Mosaic sets course for trans-Tasman climate-risk training; XRB flags carbon reporting relief
Auckland-based consulting firm, Mosaic Financial Services Infrastructure, has launched a new line of climate risk training courses targeting senior executives and boards on both sides of the Tasman. Mosaic partner, Tracey Berry, said the four-course program takes participants from the basics of climate risk through to more pragmatic steps such as scenario analysis. Berry said… [Read More…]
Core power: Schroders global equities PIE on a roll
Schroders has picked up more than $400 million from NZ investors less than a year after launching portfolio investment entity (PIE) versions of its flagship global equities fund. The Schroders Sustainable Global Core strategy reported about $425 million in total across the hedged and unhedged PIE vehicles as at the end of August. On tour… [Read More…]
EM equity investors reap rewards of a ‘decade of transformation’
China’s reduced dominance in the emerging markets has changed the composition of the index, providing greater choice and diversity for investors as supply chains relocate and Asia becomes the world’s AI factory. By the end of 2020, China’s share of the MSCI EM equity index rose to nearly 40 per cent, propelled by the decision… [Read More…]
Indefinitely maybe: fund managers request extra time on greenhouse-gas assurance duties
The Boutique Investment Group (BIG) has lobbied government to delay carbon emission assurance reporting for fund managers until Australia implements similar rules or “if not indefinitely”. In a letter addressed to Simon Watts and Andrew Bayly – Ministers of Climate Change and Commerce, respectively – BIG says the looming emission assurance regime will be expensive,… [Read More…]
TE unit-pricing sale closes as ComCom shuts file
Apex Group has finalised its takeover of the Trustees Executors (TE) unit-pricing, custody and fund accounting arm after clearing competition hurdles. TE announced the sale of the investment administration components to Apex NZ in July, pending any objection from the Commerce Commission. In a statement, a Commerce Commission spokesperson said: “We have engaged with the… [Read More…]
ANZ confirms BlackRock risk management deal; AMP turns to BlackRock power again for climate exposure
ANZ has finally signed off on its long-awaited agreement with BlackRock in a deal announced today (September 23). The bank-owned fund manager will use BlackRock for “investment risk management and reporting services” including via the ubiquitous Aladdin platform. In a statement, ANZ says: “… BlackRock will also manage the implementation of portfolio cashflow, foreign currency… [Read More…]
Veteran Generate director resigns; ANZ does responsible investment reshuffle
Inaugural Generate director and recently re-appointed chair, Peter Brook, has stepped down after a 12-year board stint with boutique KiwiSaver and investment firm. Brook joined the Generate board at launch in 2012, overseeing its growth from scratch to managing more than $5 billion today – mostly in its KiwiSaver scheme. In a statement, Generate chief,… [Read More…]
The name-blame game: why the EU is a lost-leader on ESG taxonomy
Europe has led the way in ‘green’ investment product classification. But other jurisdictions shouldn’t follow the European Union (EU) down the same naming path, according to Daniel Aguet, Scientific Beta deputy chief. Aguet said the multiple EU directives on sustainable investment taxonomy while paved with good intentions have ended in confusion at best. “The main… [Read More…]
ETFs clock record US$1tn net flows year-to-date, tick close to US$14tn total assets
The global exchange-traded fund (ETF) sector has gone gangbusters in 2024 as both net flows and total assets under management hit record highs. New data from specialist research house, ETFGI, shows assets under management in the industry neared US$14 trillion as at the end of August. Surging markets combined with record year-to-date flows of over… [Read More…]