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Buy side

Don’t expect decoupling of US and Chinese economies, despite continued tensions, experts warn

Mar 02, 2021
Mike Schnitzel
Don’t expect decoupling of US and Chinese economies, despite continued tensions, experts warn
A panel discussion at last week’s Funds Congress centered around the balance of global power between the US and China, and how the world’s supply chain is changing in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the Trump presidency, the US-China trade war escalated to the point where the US had imposed $360 bn worth of tariffs on Chinese goods, while China hit back with $110 bn worth of tariffs on US-made products.   Even so, Jack Bouroudjian, chief ...
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Buy side

UK companies face greater scrutiny over board diversity

Feb 25, 2021
Tim Human
UK companies face greater scrutiny over board diversity
UK companies will face increased scrutiny over the ethnic and gender diversity of their boards at this year’s AGM season after an investor trade body updated its ESG expectations. The Investment Association (IA), which represents investors managing around £8.5 tn ($12 tn), says it will issue an ‘amber-top’ warning on FTSE 350 companies that do not disclose either their board’s ethnic diversity or a ‘credible plan’ to achieve targets set by the Parker Re...
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Buy side

Bullish investors urge companies to focus on capex over balance sheet, finds survey

Feb 17, 2021
Tim Human
Bullish investors urge companies to focus on capex over balance sheet, finds survey
Investors are feeling more confidence about the economic recovery and have suggested companies start using cash flow to invest in the business rather than strengthen the balance sheet, according to the latest global fund manager survey from Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML). The research, which took place between February 5 and February 11, finds 91 percent of respondents expect a stronger economy in 2021 – the highest ever reading for this indicator. In addi...
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Buy side

The week in investor relations: Amsterdam ousts London, FT returns to index business and Bumble goes public

Feb 12, 2021
Garnet Roach
The week in investor relations: Amsterdam ousts London, FT returns to index business and Bumble goes public
– Amsterdam knocked aside London as Europe’s top share-trading hub, reported the Financial Times (paywall). Euronext Amsterdam and the Dutch arms of CBOE Europe and Turquoise saw a four-fold increase in trading from December to January as the Netherlands scooped up business lost by the UK since Brexit, noted the paper. An average €9.2 bn ($11.14 bn) in shares a day ...
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Buy side

Asset owners up focus on ESG amid pandemic, but regional differences to sustainability remain stark

Feb 10, 2021
Tim Human
Asset owners up focus on ESG amid pandemic, but regional differences to sustainability remain stark
Many asset owners have upped their focus on ESG as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but major differences exist between regions on the importance of sustainability issues, according to a new study.   Around a third (32 percent) of investors say ESG is getting ‘more focus’ from their investment professionals amid the global spread of coronavirus, notes ...
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Buy side

Investors focus on climate while social issues are lower concern, finds survey

Jan 07, 2021
Tim Human
Investors focus on climate while social issues are lower concern, finds survey
Institutional investors have named climate change as their top ESG issue for 2021, while showing less interest in social topics despite their rise to prominence amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a survey by Bank of America’s (BofA) global research team. In a poll conducted during the bank’s ESG conference in December, investors say their top ESG issues are climate change, corporate governance, supply chains and renewable energy. Only one in four re...
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Buy side

Climate Action 100+ sees rise in net-zero targets but ‘clear gaps’ in reporting remain

Jan 05, 2021
Tim Human
Climate Action 100+ sees rise in net-zero targets but ‘clear gaps’ in reporting remain
Close to half the companies monitored by a major investor initiative on climate change have announced a target to hit net-zero emissions by 2050 as corporate action on global warming gathers pace.  Climate Action 100+ (CA 100), backed by 545 investor signatories managing around $52 tn in assets, engages with the 100 biggest greenhouse gas emitters and a further 60 companies it views as key to tackling climate change. It calls on companies to reduce emissions...
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Buy side

Federated Hermes’ pioneering approach to active engagement

Dec 22, 2020
Ben Ashwell
Federated Hermes’ pioneering approach to active engagement
How many people make up the Federated Hermes engagement and responsible investing team? We have more than 60 global team members deployed across engagement, stewardship and our responsibility office. How long have you worked for Federated Hermes, and in which roles? I joined Federated Hermes in 2008 and was an equity portfolio manager and vice president prior to my current role as director of the responsible investing ...
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Buy side

Investing beyond borders: fund manager profile of Blue Whale Capital

Dec 21, 2020
Gill Newton
Investing beyond borders: fund manager profile of Blue Whale Capital
Founded in 2016, Blue Whale Capital is a global equity specialist based in London that manages the LF Blue Whale Growth Fund, a global strategy unconstrained by geography. It selects 25-35 stocks at a time, which allows it to invest only in what its research and analysis identify as the best firms. Blue Whale looks to buy companies that will benefit from structural growth trends and are able to significantly grow profits over time, yet also have attractive valuation...
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