Filters: Emerging Markets

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: April 13, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

Finding Emerging Market Stocks with Social Consciences

Until recently, investors interested in emerging market funds had few ways of singling out companies with standout environmental, social and governance records.

Family Foundations Beginning to Shame Public Companies to Invest More in ESG Causes

John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil Co., and as a result was the richest person on the planet when he died in 1937. Yet, some of his 200-plus living descendants have embarked on a mission to challenge Standard Oil offspring Exxon Mobil Corp. on climate change.

Bain Double Impact Calls a Trend: Sustainable Meals

The $390 million fund, headed by former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, is looking for what Patrick calls “big secular trends driving market opportunities around mission-driven brands and companies.”

Research Affiliates Bets ESG and Smart Beta are Two Great Tastes That Go Great Together

Smart-beta and sustainable investing were destined to meet in that kooky, belongs-together-forever kind of way found in romantic comedies. And now they finally have.

ESG and Diversity Aren’t Buzzwords…They’re Good Business

Scrutiny of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, and analyses of boardroom diversity have predominantly been the province of mid- and large-cap institutional investors.

Danone Looking to Make World Better One Cup of Yogurt at a Time

Danone SA, the world’s biggest yogurt maker, notched a win in its quest to remake itself into the world’s largest socially responsible food company.

 

United States & Europe
 

Europe’s Double Opportunity

Europe has a decision to make. It can stand by as nationalism and authoritarianism flourish from the United States to China. Or it can lead a reinvigoration of democratic values and international cooperation, at a time when rapid technology-driven change demands major political, economic, and social reforms.

 

Developing Economies
 

Kenya’s GDP Growth to Rebound to 5.5 Pct in 2018 – World Bank

Kenya’s economy will grow 5.5 percent this year compared with an estimated 4.8 percent last year, thanks to better weather and less political risk after last year’s presidential election, the World Bank said on Wednesday.

World Bank Keeps Favorable Growth Outlook for East Asia & Pacific

In the April 2018 edition of its East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, the World Bank is cautiously optimistic about economic growth in developing East Asia and Pacific (EAP).

Southeast Asia: Export Boom Countries

Southeast Asian nations are benefiting from the return of global growth, with more room to grow capacity and exports—even as wages trend upward.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: April 6, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

How the World’s Largest Pension Invests in ESG

Socially responsible investing (SRI) is gaining steam at a rapid pace. What was a scarcely understood novelty several years ago has now become a necessity in every “know-your-client” discussion.

4 Ways the Financial Industry Fails Socially Conscious Investors

For years, financial institutions and advisors have dismissed socially conscious investing as the well-intentioned but misguided philosophy of naïve investors.

Saving the World: The ‘New Normal’ for Finance?

Amit Bouri is evangelical that members of his network, and many more like them, can right the wrongs of the world using the muscle of their money.

Is Impact Investing the Next Big Thing for Donor-Advised Funds?

Private foundations have been taking bolder steps toward impact investing in recent years. But with more individuals turning to donor-advised funds (DAFs) to facilitate their giving, how can those funds also be invested today to improve the world?

How Investors Influence ESG Reporting

We spoke with David Mordy, Director of Investor Relations for CenterPoint Energy (CenterPoint) for his perspective on how corporate Investor Relations Officers (IROs) are viewing the shift to Socially Responsible Investing (SRI).

 

United States & Europe
 

U.S. Economy Added 103,000 Jobs in March; Unemployment Rate Stays at 4.1%

The U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs in March, maintaining a steady track of growth, but wages barely budged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

 

Developing Economies
 

Emerging Markets Get Thumbs Up After Staring Down Tough Quarter

Emerging-market stocks beat peers from developed nations in the first quarter as investors tangled with an escalation in trade tensions, a jump in bond yields and bank-funding costs, and a sell-off in technology stocks.

Latin America Under Tightening Global Liquidity Conditions: Emerging Markets in a Change Global Environment

Emerging-market assets enjoyed significant support from investors during 2017. An environment of economic-growth recovery with moderate inflation across developed markets combined with solid commodity prices and abundant liquidity searching for yield—all contributed to remarkable interest from international investors in EM securities.

Chile Economic Activity up 4 Percent Year-on-Year in February

Chile’s economic activity rose 4.0 percent in February from the same month a year ago, its largest increase in two years, the central bank said on Thursday.

Peru Names Economist Tuesta as Finance Minister

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra will appoint an economist who was a director for Latin America’s CAF development bank as finance minister in a completely new cabinet he will swear in on Monday.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: March 29, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

ESG and Supply Chain: Why Both Matter

There has been a rapid shift in the world of corporate disclosure. In the past 12 months, we have seen investment giants writing to CEOs urging them to report on their long-term strategies and socio-environmental goals, and the world’s first gender pay gap reporting regulation coming into effect.

Capitalism’s New Formula: Capital + Purpose = Social Impact

This equation is the catalyst for our movement, which shares characteristics of major social and political movements in the last century.

Europe’s $38 Billion Carbon Market is Finally Doing Its Job

Europe’s $38 billion a year carbon market is finally starting to work the way it was intended, reining in pollution with a minimum of squealing from industry.

It’s Cool to be Kind: Family Offices and Impact Investing

The term “impact investing” celebrated its 10th birthday in 2017, a year where it seemed every other investment house launched a new fund offering to tap into the trend. But what does it really take to be an impact investor?

 

United States & Europe
 

U.S. Economy Grew Faster Than Previously Estimated in Q4

Gross domestic product climbed by 2.9 percent in the fourth quarter, reflecting an upward revision from the previously estimated 2.5 percent increase.

The Most Stable Economies in Europe
They’re not necessarily the ones you’d think of first.

German Jobs Bonanza Keeps Economy Swinging into Spring

Germany’s jobless total dropped more than expected in March and unemployment hit a record low, adding impetus to a labor market that has already become the linchpin of a consumer-led upswing.

 

Developing Economies
 

South Africa’s Economic Chief Hints at Privatization Drive

“Why not?” responded National Treasury Director General Dondo Mogajane, when asked by Reuters Saturday if it was possible for segments of South Africa’s publicly-owned firms to be sold.

Indonesia Continues to Build on Solid Economic Growth

Indonesia maintained strong economic growth in 2017 and the outlook continues to be positive, according to the World Bank’s March 2018 Indonesia Economic Quarterly.

Saudi Arabia Wins Emerging Status in Quest for Billions

Saudi Arabia won classification as an emerging market by a major index compiler for the first time, a key step toward the kingdom’s goal of attracting billions in additional stock investor inflows.

Spotlight Latin America: Key Trends and Challenges for the Region in 2018

The year 2018 is a particularly eventful one for Latin America.

Argentina to Sell $4.2 Billion Bond as Part of Provincial Fiscal Pact

Argentina said on Wednesday it plans to issue $4.2 billion in peso-denominated bonds at an interest rate of 6.73 percent as part of a fiscal pact signed late last year aimed at bolstering the financial position of the country’s provinces.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: March 23, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

A Roadmap for the Impact Revolution

The Global Impact Investing Network lays plans for a five- to seven-year impact makeover of legacy financial markets.

Just Good Business: An Investor’s Guide to B Corps

Investors weigh the value of B Corp certification. More than 2,400 companies have been certified as “B Corps,” giving them a handy way to demonstrate their adherence to social and environmental performance and accountability standards. Do investors care?

How the Market for Impact Investing Could Go from Billions to Trillions

The biggest misconception about impact investing is that it’s charity. A market still in formation? Yes. A market in need of common definitions and metrics? Yes. But charity? No way.

Young Asians Pursue Impact Investing that Makes Profit at Home

The question is how fast the region will seize opportunities in societies’ many needs

ESG Researcher Sustainalytics Buys Solaron Sustainability Services

ESG research firm Sustainalytics purchased certain assets from Solaron Sustainability Services, a provider of environmental, social and governance ratings and research to global investors.

What Impact Investors Can Learn From Activists

Impact investment is a relatively new phenomenon – the billion-dollar trend most people have never heard of.

European Plans Ramping Up on ESG for Default Options

European defined contribution plans are gearing up to incorporate ESG elements into their default funds ahead of anticipated changes to retirement rules.

How Women Are Influencing Impact Investing

Women today are taking on the challenges of this millennium with uncommon vigor and creativity by managing family, career and education in ways that are transforming how we live and work.

 

United States & Europe
 

Up, Up, Up Goes the Economy. Here’s What Could Knock it Down

Americans have spent much of the past decade wondering when the economy would recover from the crippling Great Recession. Now, they are considering another question: When, and how, will that recovery end?

 

Developing Economies
 

A Positive Surprise for Emerging Markets

Many eyes are watching emerging markets economies. The economies of countries such as China, Thailand, and South Korea, along with their stock markets, soared last year and are outpacing developed markets so far in 2018.

5 Takeaways from the 2018 World Economic Forum on Latin America

Latin America has long been considered a region on the brink of great success and prosperity, but corruption and mounting inequalities plague many of its countries, and solutions aren’t easy to come by — even if the problems are increasingly easy to identify.

Latin America in the New Asia-Pacific Trade Order

Economic relations between Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Asia are at a crossroads. LAC countries face the dual challenge of reigniting trade with Asia, which remains the world’s fastest-growing region, while also diversifying and adding value to their exports.

Argentina, Germany Want to Keep Pledge for Free Trade at G20 Summit

Germany and Argentina want to uphold a pledge to keep international trade free at a summit of the world’s 20 largest economies in Buenos Aires this week, the countries’ finance ministers said on Sunday.

Water and Money’s $1 Trillion Relationship Crisis

With the U.S. and other countries needing massive water infrastructure spending, private capital will have to play a part.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: March 16, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

Demystifying Impact Investing for Newcomers – and the Rest of Us

Three impact fund managers break it down during a live panel at Liquidnet’s New York office

How to Invest With a Conscience (and Still Make Money)

Jean Case, the chief executive of the Case Foundation, is a leader in impact investing, a movement that aims to force social change by minimizing or eliminating investors’ exposure to companies that harm the world and achieve a solid return.

Make Way for ‘Gender-Lens Investing’

One of the fast-growing parts of sustainable investing is so-called gender-lens investing, which integrates gender-based factors, either to improve returns or to promote more gender equality. There have been a number of investment product introductions around the world recently; expect more.

ESG is a Growth Strategy

Pioneers such as the Environment Agency Pension Fund or mastertrust Nest will have devoted the most time to thinking about ESG, but regulatory pressure is ramping up and could soon force more schemes to do likewise.

U.S. ESG Funds Struggle to Keep Pace with Global Peers

Environmental, social and governance-focused funds investing outside the U.S. have fared significantly better than their U.S. counterparts. Three- and five-year alpha numbers for the ex-U.S. cohort were 1.42% and 1.51%, respectively, while U.S. ESG funds struggled to outperform their targets.

Nomura Says to Study Long-Term Growth of ESG Bond Market

Nomura Holdings has established a research group to focus on the sustainable development of the bond market adhering to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

The Surprising Leader in the $36 Billion Global Market for ‘Payments for Ecosystem Services’

Spoiler alert: China’s market-based system pays farmers and households more than $5 billion per year to reduce deforestation.

New Financing Facilities Blend Capital to Meet the 2030 Global Goals

Convergence design grants help fund managers mobilize private capital with public and philanthropic funding.

The Economics of Mobile Money

The business case for financial inclusion is clear. Capturing the opportunity is less so..

 

United States & Europe
 

UK Exports to a Group of Emerging Nations Could be $10B More

Annual exports to what Standard calls the Emerging 7 (China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia) are currently worth £24bn.

 

Developing Economies
 

What’s the World’s Fastest-Growing Economy? Ghana Contends for the Crown

Its projected growth in 2018, between 8.3 and 8.9 percent, might outpace even India, with its booming tech sector, and Ethiopia, which over the last decade has been one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies thanks to expanding agricultural production and coffee exports.

South Africa’s Economy Expected to Grow at 1.9% in 2018

The OECD’s latest Interim Economic Outlook has revised South Africa’s growth rate expectations for 2018 and 2019 upward, on the back of positive sentiment around the economy and changes to the political landscape.

Latin America and the Caribbean: Back on Track

A nascent global recovery is improving prospects across Latin America and the Caribbean—albeit unevenly.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: March 9, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

Digital Platforms Meet Sustainable Investing

The plan is to marry the firm’s brokerage and custody service menu with highly modular, API-driven services that help enterprises and advisors quickly deliver a new online investing service to customers.

Women’s Leadership Delivers a Prize for All: Long-Term Sustainable Growth

‘Better Leadership, Better World,’ and ‘Powering Potential’ suggest women are the key to economic outperformance.

Mobilizing Billions, then Trillions, for Climate Solutions and Energy Access

The Climate Finance Lab and Power Africa have both mobilized more than $1 billion.

Why Gender Diversity May Lead to Better Returns for Investors

Gender diversity at work and investing in equality for women can actually increase a company’s—and your portfolio’s—bottom line. Our expert explains.

 

United States & Europe
 

Canada Doubles Down on Innovative Finance for Global Development

Canadian budget commitment shows other G7 countries how public funding can catalyze private capital.

Mexico and Canada Just Got More Leverage in US Trade Negotiations

Eleven nations will formally enter into a new trade pact today designed to lower tariffs and bridge regulatory gaps around the Pacific Rim.

 

Developing Economies
 

Kenya February Private-Sector Activity Strongest in Nearly Two Years

Kenya’s private-sector activity expanded at a rapid pace last month as output rose and orders increased, a survey showed on Monday, news that will cheer investors after months of election-related contraction last year.

How China is Challenging American Dominance in Asia

As China grows more powerful, it is displacing decades-old American preeminence in parts of Asia. The outlines of the rivalry are defining the future of the continent.

Brazil’s Economy: From Zombie to Walking Dead

The OECD published its Brazil 2018 survey just as the country released figures showing its economy grew 1 per cent last year, its first year of expansion since 2014.

Latin American equities jump on U.S. jobs data

Latin American equities soared across the board on Friday, with Brazil’s benchmark Bovespa index gaining the most  intraday in three weeks, after new economic data in the United States eased fears of tighter monetary policy there.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: March 2, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

Forget FICO: How Alternative Credit-Scoring is Driving Financial Inclusion

Fintech startups are crunching call-logs, app installs and even punctuation to help individuals and businesses get loans in Kenya?—?and the U.S.

In Latin America, Tech is Driving Impact and Impact is Driving Tech

As investors seek scale at this week’s Latin America Impact Investing Forum, many are asking, ‘What is impact?’

Taking the Mystery Out of Impact Investing

One mission of ImpactAssets, a U.S. nonprofit financial services firm, is to make it easier for individuals, families, and the advisors who serve them to get their hands on the information required to understand and evaluate potential impact investments—those that aim to generate social and environmental value as well as a market-based return.

ESG, Sustainable and Impact Investing: An Advisor’s Guide

Here are some resources for advisors who are just beginning to educate themselves about these investments, which are increasingly in demand.

IA50 Assets Doubled in 2017

ImpactAssets announced that fund managers included in the seventh annual ImpactAssets50 nearly tripled their assets managed in 2017 compared with the previous year. An estimated $29.2 billion in assets were managed by IA 50 funds in 2017.

Use These 10 ESG Factors to Avoid Riskiest Investments in 2018

Don’t just think of ESG factors as representing an opportunity to own assets because of corporate policies and practices concerning the environment or social and governance issues. They can also serve as a warning sign about the risks of owning certain securities, those that score low on the ESG continuum.

Sustainable Banking Network – Global Progress Report

Emerging markets have become a major driver for sustainable development and addressing climate change. Reaching the SDGs and climate targets will require a sustained effort and an estimated $70 trillion of financing by 2030. In emerging markets, banks hold assets estimated at more than $50 trillion, which gives them the potential to make a substantial difference in sustainable development.

The Rise of ESG Investing in Asia

Incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions, responsible investment is no longer a niche area in Asia.

Retail Investors Find Comfort in ESG Investing

‘ESG Investing’ has morphed into a catch-all term for a range of strategies that really incorporate different styles and fundamental differences. However, all these concepts, which originally found their feet among institutional investors, are increasingly creeping into retail investor vernacular.

 

United States & Europe
 

Colt ‘Greens’ Its European Data Centre Network As Strategy Works

While some countries make it tricky to go entirely green in the DC field, Colt says it’s making great strides in doing the right thing.

 

Developing Economies
 

Nigerian Bank Profits Set to Get Boost from Economy’s Comeback

The spring in the step of Nigeria’s economy is likely to show up in the results of the country’s banks when they start reporting 2017 earnings from this month.

Asian Export Rebound to Fuel Faster Economic Growth in 2018

Against a backdrop of growing optimism, fueled by rising exports, China’s economy will grow by an inflation-adjusted 6.4% and four big Southeast Asian economies will log combined growth of 5.2% this year, according to a forecast by the Japan Center for Economic Research.

Is Emerging Europe Prepared for GDPR?

Giving control over their personal data back to people, and simplifying and unifying regulations within the European Union are the two primary objectives of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on May 25, 2018.

Latin America Moves the Needle in the Geopolitics of Trade

Trade is a geopolitically charged subject, and nowhere more so than in Latin America.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: February 23, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

Institutional ESG Investing Can Bring Tough Reporting Questions

Highlights from a new Natixis survey suggest reporting challenges continue to rank as top hurdle for institutions implementing ESG programs; this includes the concern that public companies may be “greenwashing” reported data to enhance their public image.

Impact Investors Seek to Expand Market

Impact investing has accelerated rapidly in the last several years as more investors—both big institutional firms as well as wealthy families—seek to put capital into enterprises that make a difference for people and the planet while still generating a financial return.

‘Green’ Investing Helps Shield Investors from Correction

Investing in ‘green’ funds benefits more than just the environment; this type of investing can also be healthy for investors’ bottom line, recent data says.

Institutional Investors Were Prepared for Market Volatility

While the market volatility may be surprising to some, institutional investors have been diligently diversifying their portfolios in anticipation of its return, Natixis Investment Managers found in a survey of 500 institutional investors around the world.

Every CFO Should Know This: ‘The Future of Banking’ Ties Verified ESG Performance to Cheaper Capital

This may be the first time a company’s cost of capital is explicitly tied to its third-party-verified ESG performance.

ESG Climbs Limited Partners’ Due Diligence Agenda

“The importance being attached to ESG is being driven by changing attitudes among a number of stakeholders.”

Japan Urged to Tap Dormant Bank Accounts to Promote ‘Impact Investment’

Japan should tap unclaimed money from dormant bank accounts to promote investment for social good, Ronald Cohen, capitalist who chairs the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment.

 

United States & Europe
 

US Economy: The Growth Puzzle

After several years of weak demand and low inflation, investment is rising. But an increase in long-term growth requires a big jump in productivity.

U.K. Wages Pick Up as Fewer Eastern Europe Workers Fill Jobs

U.K. pay is picking up after employment among citizens of the eastern countries that joined the European Union more than a decade ago fell for the first time since 2009.

 

Developing Economies
 

Time to Reform the Multilateral Development Bank System

The Multilateral Development Bank System is uniquely placed to play a central role in realizing the ambitions of the new global agenda.

First Bank Nigeria Sees Faster Growth Buoying More Lending

Nigeria’s biggest bank by revenue expects lending to accelerate and bad debts to drop this year as growth in Africa’s largest economy picks up.

Asia Debt Binge to Dampen Growth but Not Derail It, Oxford Says

Asia’s soaring levels of debt will weigh on growth over the next decade – especially in China, Malaysia, Thailand and India – but it won’t be enough to derail the region’s economy.

Indonesia Set to Join Green Bond Club

Indonesia, the world’s biggest exporter of coal used to generate power, is set to become the first Asian country to sell green bonds, underlining the tension in the nascent but fast-growing market.

Singapore Budget 2018: Gearing Economy Up for Greater Emphasis on Asia. New Tech, Ageing Population

Amid Singapore’s strong position riding on a global upturn last year, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat outlined in his Budget speech on Feb. 19 three major shifts in the coming decade: a greater economic emphasis on Asia, the emergence of new technologies and an ageing population.

Is Argentina the New Darling of Emerging Markets?

Is Argentina the new darling of emerging markets? Or is this Carlos Menem 2.0? Investors know how that ended.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: February 16, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

Rise of the Rest Adds First Nine Portfolio Companies – and More Big Name Investors

The $150 million fund’s first nine investments include startups in Indianapolis, Columbus and Pikeville, Kentucky, among other places.

Overheard at The Economist’s New York Impact Investing Event

Headliners at the magazine’s second annual gathering seemed to find their voice in rebutting stubborn assumptions.

Global Banks: We’re Watching How You Finance the Low-Carbon Transition

Boston Common Asset Management calls out the laggards -and a few leaders- in the $12 trillion 2030 financing challenge.

ESG Gains Traction in Exchange-Traded Products

ESG exchange-traded products gained a lot of traction in 2016, a trend that carried into 2017.

Is ESG Investing Going Mainstream?

Despite advisers’ misgivings, asset managers are coming around to the idea that a company’s stance on environmental, social and governance issues is a good proxy for future success.

Merrill Edge Adds ESG Scores to Client Dashboard

Merrill Lynch is making impact investing a centerpiece of Merrill Edge, the firm’s digital investment service tailored to clients with less than $250,000 of investible assets.

Mapping Forest Finance: A Landscape of Available Sources of Finance for REDD+ and Climate Action in Forests

REDD+ has emerged as a key approach for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries by providing a policy framework for increasing the value of standing forests.

How Green Banks Assess and Report Impacts

Green banks accelerate private investment in low carbon, climate-resilient (LCR) infrastructure, particularly clean-energy projects. Formed in December 2015, the Green Bank Network (GBN) fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange among green banks, which enables them to share best practices and lessons learned.

 

United States & Europe
 

Five Charts That Explain How European Banks are Dealing with Their Bad-Loan Problem

For European banks, it’s a headache that just won’t go away: the 944 billion euros ($1.17 trillion) of non-performing loans that’s weighing down their balance sheets.

 

Developing Economies
 

A Banner Year for Emerging Markets in 2017

One segment of the market that demonstrated this increase in risk appetite was Emerging market equities – experiencing their strongest performance since 2009.

The Future of Economic Convergence

The world is now facing what observers are calling a “synchronized” growth upswing. What does this mean for the economic “convergence” of developed and developing countries, a topic that lost salience after the Great Recession began a decade ago?

3 Emerging Market Risks Companies Should Watch for in 2018

Top leaders tend to focus more on status updates than on contingency planning. They devote far more time to internal execution and competitive risks than to external risks that can change the playing field. This means that many emerging market risks get cut from the senior leadership agenda.

Fastest-Growing African Economy is Even Bigger than It Seems

Ghana plans to publish overhauled economic data that will show its gross domestic product is bigger than currently estimated.

How Climate Change is Fueling Innovation in Kenya

A new generation of start-ups are working to help farmers in a region that faces myriad challenges.

Figures of the Week: Digitalization and Financial Inclusion in Kenya

According to Bloomberg, Kenya led all African countries in mobile money transactions—at $45.3 billion—through the year ending June 2017.

Namibia’s Roads Ranked the Best in Africa

The Roads Authority has announced that Namibia was once again accorded top position for having the best roads in Africa by the World Economic Forum.

Tanzania: Taking Stock of Reforms in Agricultural Sector

All eyes will be in Dodoma as stakeholders in agriculture will in a three-day conference from tomorrow take stock of reforms in the agricultural sector and plan development agenda of the sector.

What Inflation Fears? Asia Bond Markets Bet on Regional Rates Staying Low

Asia’s relatively stable bonds and money markets seem immune to the inflation fears that convulsed global equities recently, as investors bet the continent’s major economies will keep interest rates low as price pressures remain benign.

Now is the Time to Double Down on Argentina

Argentina’s economy is poised to experience solid growth as deregulation and economic liberalization deliver a sizable economic dividend.

Argentina: Macri’s Herculean Task

Argentina has made good progress in the past years, but a lot of work remains to be done.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: February 9, 2018

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Impact Investing & ESG
 

Make Money, Do Good: Women and Young Invest with Purpose

Investors increasingly want more than good returns – they want to do good, too, with women and millennials most likely to buy products that seek to save the world, according to a Swiss bank.

ESG and Impact Investing: Do You Know the Difference?

As investors increasingly rally behind the concept that their investment choices yield the ability to positively impact social or environmental issues, interest in impact investing has skyrocketed.

View from Seattle: Nine Ways to Create a Bigger Tent for Impact Investing in 2018

SOCAP365 hits the road to dig up local insights from long-time impact investors.

Record-Breaking 2017 Closes Gap Between Impact & Return-Driven Investing in Africa

African startups had a record-breaking 2017 when it came to fundraising, securing a total of $195 million, according to the recently released Disrupt Africa African Tech Startups Funding Report.

UN SDGs Can Propel Impact Investing into the Mainstream

Impact investing is set to continue to grow, as many investors are interested in making their money work for good, as well as for returns.

DC Participants Seen as Next Advocates of ESG Mantra

ESG investing is getting a closer look from defined contribution stakeholders as a potential way to increase participant engagement and participation, provide diversification, achieve higher long-term returns and manage risks.

Millennials Embrace ESG Options in Bloomberg’s 401(k) Plan

Millennials are the largest identifiable group that has elected to participate in the ESG-focused fund in Bloomberg’s $2.5 billion U.S. 401(k) plan.

 

United States & Europe
 

Europe is to Choose a New Key Member for the European Central Bank

So far, two names have been mentioned as potential replacements for Constancio: Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos and Philip Lane, the governor of Ireland’s central bank.

 

Developing Economies
 

Star of Africa in 2018 Lenders’ Economic Forecasts is Ghana

Africa’s likely star economic performer this year isn’t in much doubt, according to all three of the international lenders focusing on the continent.

Ghana’s President Pledges to Build on Economic Progress of 2017

Ghana’s President said efforts to stabilize the economy are beginning to yield results as the rate of debt-growth slowed while the government exceeded targets for keeping spending under control.

Thailand Approves Law for US$45 Billion Eastern Economic Corridor

Thailand’s parliament on Thursday approved legislation geared towards attracting more investment in an ambitious $45 billion project in the country’s industrial east, which the ruling junta hopes will help lift Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.

Eastern Europe: The Growth Which is Not Visible

The relevance of the Eurozone on a global level means that the majority of the macroeconomic information being handled pivots around the countries in the region. As a result, we habitually don’t pay attention to the performance of other economies in Europe which, in the last few years, have shown vigorous growth.