Briefing

briefing

The Briefing

For this issue The Briefing looks at the latest trends in sustainable investing and finds some surprising developments.

14%

The number of UK millennial investors who cite an interest in sustainable investing and actually invest in the class.

OppenheimerFunds surveyed over 900 UK HNW investors and advisers. The study also revealed a misalignment between HNW investors’ expectations from their advisers and what advisers think their clients want.

39%

The number of investors globally who have at least 1% of their portfolio devoted to sustainable investments according to UBS.

The study revealed emerging economies including China, Brazil and the UAE as having the highest rates of sustainable investing adoption.

Investors in the US and the UK were found lagging in this regard, with only 12% and 20% adoption rates, respectively.

x4

Millennials in the UK are four times more likely to invest in sustainable portfolios compared to their older peers, according to a research by Barclays.

Of the 2,000 investors polled in the UK, 43% below the age of 40 years were found to have made an impact investment during their lifetime.

On the contrary, 9% of investors aged between 50 and 59 years and only 3% of investors over 60 years of age were found to have made an impact investment.

37%

of business executives of Hong Kong-listed companies have incorporated environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their core strategies.

The joint study by KPMG, CLP and the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries (HKICS) surveyed more than 200 senior executives.

More than one third of the interviewees believed ESG issues do not significantly affect the business or that it offers limited short-term/immediate returns.

$1billion

The amount raised by UBS’s new 100% ESG sustainable portfolio. Launched in June and available to UK clients, the portfolio gives access to World Bank bonds; green bonds and ESG equity funds focused on shareholder engagement.

The launch comes a year after UBS launched the investment vehicle in Switzerland.

32%

Sustainable investment had little to no influence on the decision-making process of 32% of institutional investors, according to a report by British fund manager Schroders.

Of the 650 institutions polled, only the larger institutional investors were found to place a bigger focus for sustainable allocations.

4

The number of new sustainable emerging market debt funds launched by BlackRock

The UCITS-compliant strategies will invest in debt securities issued by government, public local authorities as well as corporates in emerging market countries.