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Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

Vice President, MSCI Research

Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc specializes in equity-solutions research, including the index and analytics solutions tailored for wealth and asset managers. Previously, she concentrated on quantitative portfolio management, attribution analysis and regulatory matters within MSCI's ESG research and analytics teams. Her research has been featured in top peer-reviewed academic journals. Yuliya holds a doctorate in finance from Goethe University, a master's degree in financial mathematics from TU Kaiserslautern and a master's degree in mathematics from Kyiv University.

Research and Insights

Articles by Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    ESG and Climate Reporting with Derivatives

    Research Report | Jan 5, 2024 | Hitendra D Varsani, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc, Yu Ishihara, Dinank Chitkara, Rumi Mahmood

    No clear guidance presently exists on ESG and climate reporting for derivatives. Using input from market participants, regulatory guidance and a survey of existing research, we propose a framework for more transparent reporting to include derivatives. 

    A Roadmap to Personalizing Model Portfolios: Scaling with Purpose

    Research Report | Oct 19, 2023 | Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc, Ashish Lodh

    High-net-worth investors are seeking portfolios tailored to their financial goals, personal values and tax situation. Wealth managers need scalable solutions. We explore using factor, thematic and sustainable investing to customize portfolios.    

    Analyzing Tax Strategies Using Direct Indexing and ETFs

    2 mins read Quick Take | Oct 6, 2023 | Joseph Wickremasinghe, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    Direct indexing and ETFs can both play a part in designing a tax-efficient investment strategy. We compare those roles in a U.S.-domiciled portfolio.  

    What Connects Correlation and Tax-Loss Harvesting?

    3 mins read Quick Take | Sep 28, 2023 | Joseph Wickremasinghe, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    Selling a capital asset at a loss to reduce your tax liability is one side of the coin. The other side is thoughtfully selecting the security that replaces it.   

    Wealth Managers, Direct Indexing and ADRs

    2 mins read Quick Take | May 31, 2023 | Joseph Wickremasinghe, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    Wealth managers now have the option to complement domestic allocations with direct indexing using the 370 constituents of the MSCI EAFE Expanded ADR Index.

    Climate and ESG Indexes in Focus: Sectors Told the Story

    6 mins read Blog | May 8, 2023 | Guillermo Cano, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc, Manish Shakdwipee, Román Mendoza

    We review the drivers of performance for ESG and climate indexes over the first quarter of 2023, and investigate the explanatory power of the carbon-efficiency factor over time. 

    How ESG Risk Management Can Impact Security Risk

    Research Report | Apr 13, 2023 | Miranda Carr, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc, Blessy Varghese, Zoltán Nagy, Guido Giese

    Following extensive research showing an improvement in risk-adjusted returns for companies with higher ESG ratings, we look beyond what a company’s ESG issues were to how that company dealt with them — and the impact that had on stock-specific risk.

    ESG Ratings Financial Performance Blurred but Still Present in 2022

    1 mins read Quick Take | Feb 14, 2023 | Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    Some systematic factors flipped the direction of their contribution last year relative to recent years. We analyzed the return drivers of companies with different MSCI ESG Ratings in 2022.

    The Performance of ESG Indexes: Year in Review

    6 mins read Blog | Jan 31, 2023 | Saurabh Katiyar, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    There were several dynamics that influenced the performance of ESG indexes in 2022. We examine the impact of macroeconomic and financial conditions on returns in the short- and long-term.

    ESG Indexes Lifted by Carbon-Efficient Firms but Underperformed

    6 mins read Blog | Oct 31, 2022 | Saurabh Katiyar, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    While much of the market volatility endured, the MSCI ESG Indexes’ performance drivers varied from the first half to the third quarter of 2022. We examine the impact of macroeconomic and financial conditions on returns in the short- and long-term.

    MSCI ESG Indexes Underperformed but Met ESG Objectives

    6 mins read Blog | Aug 24, 2022 | Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc, Saurabh Katiyar

    There have been specific dynamics that have influenced ESG-index performance in the first half of 2022. We examine the impact of macroeconomic and financial conditions on return in the short- and long-term. 

    ESG Reporting in Long-Short Portfolios

    Research Report | Apr 19, 2022 | Rumi Mahmood, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc, Miranda Carr, Yu Ishihara

    We draw on our consultation with owners and managers of long-short portfolios to recommend best practices for fund-level ESG and climate reporting. 

    Implications of Shorting on Cost of Capital and ESG: Empirical Evidence

    Research Report | Apr 19, 2022 | Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    We draw on our consultation with owners and managers of long-short portfolios to recommend best practices for fund-level ESG and climate reporting. 

    Despite Oil & Gas’s Rebound, ESG Indexes Outperformed

    7 mins read Blog | Jan 28, 2022 | Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc

    In 2021, oil and gas stocks bounced back after five years of weak performance. However, leading MSCI ESG Indexes, which often have lower weights to high-carbon emission industries such as oil and gas, were resilient last year. What drove performance?

    Are Your Clients Ready for US Tax Day?

    6 mins read Blog | May 10, 2021 | Raina Oberoi, Yuliya Plyakha Ferenc, Joseph Wickremasinghe, Paulina Serrano

    Given the complexity of U.S. tax regulation, wealth advisers continue to grapple with how to build tax-efficient portfolios while balancing clients’ other objectives. We propose a rules-based way of doing so and analyze its benefits and trade-offs.