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Featured Theme
2013 ESG Trends to Watch
If there is one thing that Hurricane Sandy in the US taught us, it is that preparation counts. What seemed unlikely even just a day before the storm upended business-as-usual and reinforced the primacy of risk management. As MSCI ESG Research looks forward to 2013, we see clouds on the horizon in the context of accelerating climate change and populist disenchantment in key emerging markets with the way business gets done. Yet, those who look beyond the constrained horizons of stagnating home markets and business-as-usual to retool their strategies for new growth drivers have the chance to seize a significant first mover advantage. Read more
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Research in Focus
Firearms Divestment in the US
Now six weeks since the Sandy Hook tragedy, the US investor community continues to bear witness to the rapidly developing firearms divestment campaign. On January 9, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) Investment Committee announced that it would begin divesting from firearms companies that manufacture weapons that are illegal in California. Similar investment bans have been adopted in New York City and Chicago. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has issued a call through the US Conference of Mayors for adoption of the 'Sandy Hook Principles', modeled after the Sullivan principles to end apartheid in South Africa. Read more
Stay tuned: On February 28, 2013, MSCI ESG Research will host a webinar to discuss these and other questions arising from calls to divest from firearms companies.
Green Property Growth: Asia-Pacific and European REITs Setting the Trend
The latest 'MSCI ESG IVA Industry Report: Real Estate' benchmarks 70 of the largest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) globally, covering almost 200 million sqm in space (2.1 billion sqft). Our research finds that the green building market shows more growth potential in Asia-Pacific and Europe than in North America. In addition, energy efficiency practices in North American Residential and Retail REITs are particularly underdeveloped. Top performers by region include GPT (Asia-Pacific), Hammerson (EU), and Liberty (Northern America)
Partner in Focus - January
Centre for Responsible Banking and Finance (RBF), University of St Andrews
Centre for Responsible Banking and Finance (RBF), MSCI ESG Research's current ESG Partner, is a research centre based at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Launched in 2011, the Centre acts as a platform for academics and practitioners and gives them access to the latest research on responsible banking and investment topics and the opportunity to exchange and discuss common issues and areas of interest. The Centre aims to promote high calibre academic research about issues that are at the core of the today's globalised society. Find out more about RBF, University of St Andrews. Read more
Join our global ESG Partner Network! - Click here to find out more
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ESG Integration
Optimizing ESG Factors in Portfolio Construction
Institutional investors wanting to integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors in their investment strategies need the right tools to measure portfolio risk characteristics and performance. MSCI's BarraOne and Barra Portfolio Manager can provide this utility with Intangible Value Assessment (IVA) ratings from MSCI ESG Research. In this recent study, we examine the use of IVA ratings with the Barra Global Equity Model (GEM3) to build optimized portfolios with improved ESG ratings, while keeping risk, performance, country, industry, and style characteristics similar to conventional benchmarks, such as the MSCI World Index. Read more
Stay tuned: On March 21 2013, MSCI ESG Research will host an interactive webinar on optimizing ESG factors in portfolio construction.
Featured Events
MSCI / GTQ Seminar: Quantifying ESG -
A Practical Methodology for Valuing Non-financial Performance
GTQ is organizing a series of seminars on 'Quantifying ESG' in London (March 19), Amsterdam (March 21) and Zurich (March 22). The seminars will outline a methodology for valuing a firm’s primary intangible assets and its ESG performance, allowing enhanced portfolio analysis for investors and better management and communication of ESG / sustainability performance for corporations. MSCI ESG Research is hosting the seminar in London. Read more and register
Global ESG Leadership Forum 2013: ESG Integration across Asset Classes
Historically, responsible investment has looked first and foremost to the social and environmental risks and opportunities of investing in the equities of corporations, and a network of sophisticated, socially responsible stock indices, money managers, research firms, and investment products have emerged to help investors integrate ESG information into their public equity investments. Despite many recent and important projects, much work remains to be done to create an overview of how to approach sustainable investment across asset classes and how to develop definitions and guidelines for responsible investment across portfolios. On April 11, 2013, MSCI ESG Research is hosting 3 ESG Leaders webinars (for APAC, EMEA and Northern America) where experts from industry and academy seek to evaluate growth in responsible investment across asset classes. Read more and register
Featured Resources
Press Release - Breckinridge Chooses MSCI ESG Research
Article 2013 ESG Trends to Watch
Webcast - 2013 ESG Trends to Watch
For more information on MSCI ESG Research and Indices products and services, please contact esgclientservice@msci.com or visit www.msci.com.
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