Filters: Impact Investing

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: November 22, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

When It Comes to Investing in the Future, Go with Renewable Energy over Bitcoin

Bitcoin is going gangbusters and getting all the attention, but it’s far easier to understand the dynamics in the energy markets, and they show that renewable energy is not going backward again.

Impact Investing is Being Democratized – and Marginalized Communities are Benefiting

The first comprehensive snapshot of community investing in the United States points to increased diversity and inclusion for startup funding. Foundations and impact investors should pay attention.

Schwab IMPACT: Can ESG be an Advisor’s Niche?

So far, there has been little uptake among advisors or clients for ESG funds.

 

United States & Europe
 

Making Manufacturing Great Again Would Add $530 Billion to GDP

A new report suggests investments in today’s manufacturing operations could carry hundreds of billions of dollars in economic payoffs.

Commission Calls for Reforms to Address Wage Stagnation

The European Commission told member states on Wednesday to prioritize policies that support wage growth, in light of the economic pain still suffered by many Europeans.

How to Build on Europe’s Economic Recovery

Economic growth in Europe is picking up, political uncertainty has diminished, and the vision of an “ever-closer” regional union is energizing some new constructive thinking in core countries. Translating this into sustainable prosperity, however, is far from automatic, and these improvements need to be followed by structural changes in four key areas.

 

Developing Economies
 

Emerging Markets in Focus: Chile, S. Africa, Hungary, India

A list of emerging markets to keep an eye-out for.

Tanzania: Construction Sector Vital in Industrialization

Local contractors need to observe ethics and professional standards to compete with foreign contractors in major projects.

Ex-Leader Wins First Round of Chile’s Presidential Vote

Former President Sebastián Piñera of Chile, a conservative billionaire, on Sunday won the first round of an election to choose a successor to President Michelle Bachelet.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: November 17, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

Government Launches Emerging Market Impact Investment Fund

The $40 billion emerging markets impact investment fund will support SME’s that generate positive social and development outcomes for poor communities in the Asia-Pacific.

Impact Investing Taking Root in Asia

In a bid to help address challenging global circumstances, a growing number of Asia’s high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals are looking to increase their portfolio allocation to impact investing.

Blending Finance to Crowd in Private Capital for Climate Action and the Global Agenda

Meeting the Paris climate goals is essential for the Sustainable Development Goals as well.

U.N. Secretary-General: End Fossil Fuel Investment and Put a Price on Carbon

Guterres calls for the world to honor its yearly $100 billion pledge to finance the low-carbon transition.

A New Model of Collaborative Philanthropy

A new effort called Co-Impact is bringing together donors from around the world to better identify, align, and support opportunities for systems-level change.

World’s Biggest Wealth Fund Wants Out of Oil and Gas

The $1 trillion fund that Norway has amassed pumping oil and gas over the past two decades wants out of petroleum stocks.

Evidence on the Financial Performance of Impact Investments

Impact investing is a growing movement capturing the attention of investors across the world. But too much capital is still sitting on the sidelines, which results in part from suspicions around financial performance.

EU Considering Sustainable Investing as Fiduciary Duty for Investors

The European Commission is considering whether to clarify that institutional investors’ duties include taking into account sustainability risks.

Designing a Global Financial System Fit for (Sustainable) Purpose

A roadmap for climate- and SDG-finance from the United Nations and the World Bank reflects a shift that’s well underway.

 

United States & Europe
 

US Unemployment Benefits Rise 10,000 to 249,000

The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits edged up again last week to a still-low 249,000.

Euro Zone Growth, Eclipsing U.S. Economy, Set to be Best in Decade

The euro zone’s annual economic growth rate outstripped that of the United States in the third quarter setting up 2017 as the best year for the currency area since financial markets crashed a decade ago.

Euro Economy is Heading Towards a Golden Period

The 19-nation euro-zone bloc is already enjoying the strongest growth in a decade and now economists are declaring that it’s heading toward a golden period of low-inflationary expansion.

Central Europe Grows at Fastest Rate in 9 Years

Central Europe’s fastest expansion for nine years and strong growth in Germany spurred the EU’s vigorous economic recovery in the third quarter.

 

Developing Economies
 

African Economic Growth Rides on Wireless Rails

A telecommunications boom is lifting an industry and a continent.

Nigeria’s Senate Gives Go-Ahead for $5.5 Billion Foreign Borrowing

Nigeria will move ahead with plans to borrow $5.5 billion from foreign investors after the Senate on Tuesday approved President Muhammadu Buhari request for the move.

Latin America Demonstrates Leadership at COP23

Latin American countries, regions, and cities demonstrated clear ambition and leadership at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) held in Bonn, Germany over the past two weeks.

Colombia’s Economy Grew 2% in Third Quarter Versus Year Before

Cardenas announced the lower growth estimate after the government’s statistics agency DANE reported that the economy expanded 2 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period a year ago.

How Asia Has Become the World’s Manufacturing Hub

Economic development always starts with using what natural resources are available and making a start in agriculture. But countries don’t grow by staying put.

Malaysian Economy Expands at Fastest Pace in More than 3 Years

Malaysia’s economy grew at the fastest pace in more than three years in the third quarter, supported by resilient domestic demand and a manufacturing sector that’s benefiting from booming global trade.

Philippines Economy Sizzles in Forecast-Beating Third-Quarter Growth

The Philippine economy clocked forecast-topping growth of 6.9% in the third quarter, making it one of Asia’s fastest growing and building expectations for a near-term increase in interest rates.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: November 10, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

Impact Investors Can Profit From Infill Real Estate Development and Do Well by Doing Good

There have always been investors who value profitable opportunities that create a positive social and economic impact on communities and the environment.

Advisors Failing to Talk ESG with Clients

Investors of all ages are interested in environmental, social and governance investing—or ESG—but advisors apparently are not bringing up the subject with them.

Argentina Wants a Slice of the Impact Investment Pie

Attracting impact investors is part of Argentina President Mauricio Macri plan to rebuild the country’s investment environment.

‘Less Talk, More Action’ to Boost Impact Investing in China

The philosophy behind impact investing isn’t lost on China, but the tendency to over-hype the sector could be.

Forbes Launches Impact Investing Community
Forbes Media announced today the launch of its invite-only Impact Investing Community which will convene the world’s most influential people – entrepreneurs, celebrities, family offices, athletes, investors, musicians, next-gen leaders, and creators – to scale impact investing and influence culture.

 

United States & Europe
 

N.Y. Fed Sees U.S. Economy Growth Near 3.2 Percent in Fourth Quarter

The New York Federal Reserve on Friday kept its view on U.S. gross domestic product growth for the fourth quarter near 3.2 percent given the dearth of economic data this week.

Goldman Sachs CEO: China’s Economy Will Surpass the US, and by One Measure it Already Has

Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein told CNBC on Thursday it’s inevitable that the Chinese economy will be bigger than the U.S. economy based on the sheer population disparity alone.

Europe’s Economic Dilemma

Europe faces a serious problem. Although economic activity has recently increased, the euro zone has lost the ability to respond to the next downturn when it happens, as it inevitably will.

 

Developing Economies
 

Managing Climate Impacts Through 2050

A new ranking from Thomson Reuters charts the top 250 corporate producers of greenhouse gases.

Brazil Begins Efforts to Plant 73 Million Trees in the Amazon

The experiment in reforestation involves spreading native seeds instead of planting saplings.

China Makes Historic Move to Open Market for Financial Firms

China took a major step toward the long-awaited opening of its financial system, saying it will remove foreign ownership limits on banks while allowing overseas firms to take majority stakes in local securities ventures, fund managers, and insurers.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: October 27, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

The Limits of ESG Screening

Governance is the most important factor in ESG investing. But can you really screen for it?

Companies Taking ESG Seriously are Long-Term Winners

Inequality and climate change have created a challenging backdrop for companies, meaning a failure to incorporate these principles will provide a poor return for investors.

In Depth: ESG Investing is Here to Stay

As asset owners’ fervor surrounding ESG and impact investing intensifies, sustainable investing has emerged as an integral part of investment frameworks.

25 Universal Assets Owners That Could Put a Dent in the SDG Financing Gap

Canada had the most leaders on a list of the world’s top 25 responsible asset allocators, with six asset managers representing nearly $1 trillion under management.

Global Tree Cover Loss Rose 51 Percent in 2016

Global tree cover loss reached a record 29.7 million hectares in 2016, according to new data from the University of Maryland released today on Global Forest Watch.

Business Are Facing a New Reality. These Are the Ones that are Succeeding.

Evidence is mounting to show that the frequency and ferocity of extreme weather events is intensifying on a global scale. From severe droughts to powerful storms, we are living in an increasingly changeable, uncertain, and unpredictable world.

 

United States & Europe
 

US Workforce to Add 11.5 Million Jobs by 2026

The U.S. economy is expected to add another 11.5 million jobs by 2026, as an aging population and longer life spans raise the need for healthcare providers. The total U.S. workforce is expected to grow to 167.6 million people.

U.S. Economy Grew at 3% Rate in 3rd Quarter, Despite Storm

In a show of resilience, the American economy grew at a solid pace in the latest quarter despite the impact of the hurricanes in Texas and Florida.

Eastern Europe’s Major Economies Are Having an Underappreciated “Goldilocks Moment”

Germany has long been the engine that drives the EU’s economic growth, but for the past few years it has been outpaced by countries further east—most notably Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic.

Catalonia Independence: Rajoy Dissolves Catalan Parliament

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is dissolving the Catalan parliament and calling snap local elections after MPs there voted to declare independence.

 

Developing Economies
 

Worldwide Debt More Than Triple Economic Output as Central Bank Shift Looms

Worldwide debt has risen to a record $226 trillion – more than three times global annual economic output – and firms in more countries are struggling to service loans.

Emerging-Market Debt Loses Some Local Appeal

Local-currency debt of developing nations has hit a rough spot after gaining nearly 12 percent during the first nine months of the year.

By 2030, the Number of 15-to-24-Year Olds Will Increase by 100 Million –Where Will They Find Work?

Between 2015 and 2030, the number of 15- to 24-year-olds is expected to increase by 100 million – almost all of them in sub-Saharan Africa and most of them in rural areas.

A $2.9 Billion Tax Hole Looms Over South Africa’s Finance Minister

South African Finance Minister faces a gaping budget hole — and will have to consider cutting spending, raising taxes and selling state assets if he wants to avoid further ratings downgrades.

Tanzania President Names Tax Expert as Central Bank Governor

Tanzania’s new central bank governor will be tax law professor Florens Luoga.

Zambia’s Independence and the State of Agriculture

Zambia’s agriculture has a special place in the country’s political and economic agenda.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: October 20, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

Leveraging Impact Investing to Achieve the SDGs

All the aid and philanthropy in the world combined leaves a $2.5 trillion a year gap in the money needed to finance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Engaging Local Communities to Unlock Investment in the Blue Economy

Better fisheries management, cooperative ownership and ocean restoration could reverse an $83 billion annual loss.

Mini-Grid Developers Get Ready for Debt Capital Scale Up Access to Clean Energy

Microgrid Investment Accelerator plans to crowd in $115 million to connect 1 million people by 2036.

Millennials Love ESG, Just Not As Much As Their Grandparents

Sustainable and socially responsible investing isn’t just for the kids, according to a recent Allianz Global Investors study.

George Soros’ $18 Billion Gift to Open Society Foundations Could Boost Impact Investments

The hedge-fund billionaire and a global advocate have transferred $18 billion in assets to his long-time philanthropy.

 

United States & Europe
 

Who Has the World’s No.1 Economy? Not the U.S.

By the most measures, China has passed the U.S. and is pulling away.

Impact Investors Ask Government to Plough £2bn More into ‘Inclusive Economy’

A national body including some of the key figures in impact investment has called on the government to put £2bn into a fund to promote an “inclusive economy.”

 

Developing Economies
 

The IMF Has a Message for Emerging Markets: Take Advantage of Easy Money While It Lasts

Emerging markets should get their fiscal houses in order while monetary conditions remain loose, the International Monetary Fund warned.

Emerging-Market Currencies Are Bound for Turbulence in the Fourth Quarter

Emerging-market currencies, which have enjoyed solid gains to date, could face intense pressure in the last three months of 2017.

Brazil Minister: Amazon Deforestation ‘Drops by 16%’

Amazon deforestation is down by 16% in the year to July 2017 compared to the previous 12 months, the Brazilian government says.

Chile Presidential Hopeful Pinera Vows to Double Economic Growth

Chile’s conservative presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera on Wednesday promised to double economic growth and by 2025 make the country the first in Latin American to achieve “developed nation” status.

Localizing SDGs Event Showcase Colombia’s SDG Implementation Planning

The event began with an overview of Colombia’s efforts to integrate SDG targets into its National Development Plan and Peace Agreement as well as to meet their international commitments, including the Paris Agreement on climate change, their bid for OECD accession and the SDGs.

Islamic Development Bank Pledges $800M to Boost Economies of 7 Developing Countries

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has signed agreements worth $804 million with seven countries in Africa and Latin America in order to help boost their economies.

Namibia: Farmworkers’ Minimum Wage Up By 25 Percent

Successful wage negotiations between the Agricultural Employers Association, Namibia National Farmers Union, Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union and Namibia Farm Workers Union last week resulted in the previous farmworkers’ minimum wage of 2014 being increased by 25%.

Namibia Adopts Plan to End Discrimination Against Women

Windhoek-Namibia is in the process to implement the plan of action of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women 2017-2020.

 

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: October 13, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

The 2017 Best for the World Funds

Best for the World Funds have made a deep commitment to measuring impact using a holistic, third-party standard: The GIIRS Impact Rating system, developed by B Lab.

Impact Investing and SOCAP Turn 10

There’s a birthday party this week in San Francisco. SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) and impact investing are both celebrating their tenth birthday.

The Impact Investment Strategies that Helped Make These Funds among the ‘Best for the World’

B Lab’s annual list of top-ranked impact funds includes some you may not have heard of — yet.

ESG Funds Outperform Active Rivals

For the second straight year, ESG funds outperformed conventional active funds in Barron’s annual survey of sustainable funds in Morningstar’s database.

Goldman Says ESG Investing Has Gone Mainstream

Goldman Sachs Asset Management officials say ESG investing, along with impact investing, are no longer specialty niches, but are taking a prominent place on the investment menu.

 

United States & Europe
 

US Withdrawal from Paris Agreement will Impact Developing Nations, Says ECA’s Murombedzi

The withdrawal of the US from Paris Agreement will have massive implications on US support to the financing of climate actions in the developing world, says James Murombedzi, Coordinator of the African Climate Policy Centre at the Economic Commission for Africa.

House Approves $36.5 Billion Hurricane and Wildfire Aid Package

The House, dismissing concern for the rising cost, approved a $36.5 billion aid package on Thursday that would provide hurricane and wildfire relief funding while bailing out the financially troubled National Flood Insurance Program.

IMF Tells Rich Nations that Greater Urgency Needed on Climate Change

The IMF warned the world’s richest nations to have a greater sense of urgency about climate change, a day after Tony Abbott delivered a bizarre speech claiming climate change was “probably doing good”.

European Council Calls for Mobilization of Public and Private Finance for Climate-resilient Development

The European Council has emphasized the importance of making progress on the Paris Agreement’s “transformational objective” of making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

 

Developing Economies
 

Global Unemployment Passes 200 million in 2017, UN Labor Agency Reports

More than 200 million people are out of work around the world – an increase of 3.4 million since last year, the United Nations labor agency said Monday, calling for policies that can recharge “sluggish” growth of small and medium-sized businesses.

Investor Uncertainty Looms Over Sustainable Development Goals

A changing investment policy landscape has investors feeling uncertain at a stage when the world’s most vulnerable economies desperately need foreign cash, UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi has told an international meeting on investment convening this week in Geneva.

Economic Diversification Even More Crucial as the Fight against Climate Change Revs Up

The need for developing countries to diversify the portfolio of goods and services they produce has become even more pressing as governments move to act on the promises of the Paris climate agreement, UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Isabelle Durant has told an international meeting in Geneva.

Colombia Peace Deal Cannot be Modified for 12 Years, Court Rules

Colombia’s next three governments must comply with a 2016 peace deal signed with the Marxist FARC rebel group, the Constitutional Court said in a ruling late on Wednesday, shielding the accord from potential changes should the opposition win next year’s elections.

Liberia Goes to Polls to Find Successor to Africa’s First Female President

Candidates to replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf include Prince Johnson, a former rebel leader who ordered the killing of the ex-president.

Zambia Happy with Africa’s 9 Trillion Dollars Expenditure Towards Infrastructure Development

Zambia has expressed happiness with Africa’s annual expenditure of nine trillion dollars towards infrastructure development Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba.

China’s Secret Aid Empire Uncovered

Not very long ago, China was a foreign aid recipient. Now, it rivals the United States as one of the world’s largest donors, through traditional development aid or through financial loans.

Global Firms Join to Bet on Indonesia as Next Start-Up Frontier

Big-name investors including Expedia and Alibaba are pumping billions of dollars into Indonesian tech start-ups in a bid to capitalize on the country´s burgeoning digital economy and potential as Southeast Asia´s largest online market.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: October 06, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

Major Asset Managers Moving Slowly but Surely Toward Impact Investing

Nine of ten of the largest U.S. asset managers have launched or are exploring strategies.

TPG Seals Record $2 Billion for Fund Co-Led by Bono

Private equity firm TPG collected $2 billion for The Rise Fund, tapping growing demand for impact investing to create the largest pool of its kind.

Filling the Education Funding Gap in India

Impact investors are missing key opportunities in India’s education sector.

Bain, Alts Peers Chase ‘Holy Grail’ of Rating Impact Results

A new challenge looms for the impact investing market, which across its first decade has labored to prove that fund managers and strategies can produce competitive financial returns alongside a measurable social benefit.

 

United States & Europe
 

Labor Case before Supreme Court and Jobs Number for September

The Supreme Court will open its new term by hearing arguments about whether companies can require workers to forfeit their rights to join together in lawsuits or arbitration proceedings against their employers.

U.S. Lost 33,000 Jobs in September as Hurricanes Roared Through

The Labor Department released its official hiring and unemployment figures for September on Friday morning, providing the latest snapshot of the American economy.

 

Developing Economies
 

The Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018

Ten years on from the global financial crisis, the prospects for a sustained economic recovery remain at risk due to a widespread failure on the part of leaders and policy-makers to put in place reforms necessary to underpin competitiveness and bring about much-needed increases in productivity.

Stanford Launches Research Center Focused on Global Poverty and Development

The Center on Global Poverty and Development joins students and faculty from across the university and connects them with policymakers and business leaders committed to fighting poverty.

Historic Milestone Reached in Global Fight Against Mercury Pollution

In a landmark display of international cooperation, more than 160 countries committed to tackling one of the world’s greatest chemical health threats at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Startup Accelerators Have Become More Popular in Emerging Markets – and They’re Working

For decades, we have heard that emerging markets are poised for huge growth that will yield even greater prosperity. But a long list of obstacles always seems to be getting in the way of realizing this potential. Startup accelerator programs have been touted as one path to faster progress.

Emerging Markets Lag in Software

Despite the huge size of emerging economies they have yet to produce global leaders in software.

Peru Targets 100% Rural Electrification by 2021 with Transmission Upgrades, Natural Gas and Solar

Head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Cayetana Aljovín, ratified the electrification commitment of the government of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, at the 6th International Energy Day Congress.

New Marine Parks Protect 290000 Square Miles of Ocean

The parks protect a combined area in the Pacific Ocean more than twice the size of Germany.

Puerto Rico’s Agony Makes the Case for Climate-Resilience Investing

As risks rise, so does the value of mitigating them.

Southeast Asia Banks Urged to Strengthen Environment Policies

Banks and regulators in Southeast Asia should strengthen financial-sector rules and guidelines to promote funding for environment-friendly projects in a region threatened by deforestation and climate change.

World Bank says 64% of People Who Live in Slums are in Asia

Around 64% of people who live in urban slums are in Asia, as the region experienced rapid rural-to-urban migration that has left millions of urban dwellers in poverty, according to the World Bank.

Nigeria Recovers $3 Billion in Large-Scale Energy Sector Reform

The government of the West African country, the biggest oil producer on the continent, is currently carrying out a large-scale reform in the energy sector aimed at improving transparency and revenues, after years of graft in the national petroleum company and other local entities that have cost the state coffers billions.

World Food Programme Cuts Rations for Refugees in Kenya

The U.N. World Food Programme is cutting food rations by 30 percent for more than 400,000 refugees living in camps in Kenya due to insufficient funding.

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: September 29, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing

The Real Impact of Impact Investing

Whether it concerns climate change, supply chains, human rights or corruption, investors increasingly seek to better understand the impact that their investments are having.

 

MSCI Launches Four ESG Factor Indices

SCI has launched four ESG factor target indices in response to increasing demand from clients.

 

Schroders: Sustainable Investment on the Rise as ESG Issues Gain Prominence

Sustainable investments are becoming an increasing part of investors’ portfolios with over half of UK investors raising their allocations over the past five years.

 

Insider Perspective: UNGA and Climate Week

Last week, heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, academics and activists gathered in New York City during the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

 

The Journal of Environmental Investing: State of ESG Data and Metrics

The Journal of Environmental Investing has released its eighth publication, covering the state of ESG data and metrics for the first time.

 

Accelerating Entrepreneurs: Insights from USAID’s Support for Small and Growing Businesses

USAID’s Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship (PACE) Initiative aims to catalyze private sector investment into early-stage enterprises and help entrepreneurs bridge the pioneer gap—thus unlocking the potential of thousands of promising enterprises around the world.

 

United States & Europe

U.S. Climate Change Policy: Made in California
A peculiar confluence of history, legal precedent and defiance has set the stage for a regulatory mutiny in California that would reverberate throughout.

 

The US is the Second-Most Competitive Economy in the World, According to the World Economic Forum

After three years in third place, the US has climbed up one spot to be the second-most competitive country in the world, after Switzerland—its highest ranking in eight years. The US edged out Singapore, which slipped to third.

 

Europe Could Attract $417 Billion with Higher Wind-Power Target

Europe’s wind power industry may attract 351 billion euros ($417 billion) of investment by 2030 if countries adopt reforms and targets for their energy systems in the next year.

 

Denmark Launches Fund to Mobilize $5 Billion for the Global Goals

The $1 billion SDG Investment Fund aims to attract $5 billion from private investors over the next four years to tackle the U.N.’s 2030 agenda in low- and middle-income countries.

 

Developing Economies

Brazil Declares It Won’t Abolish Massive Reserve in the Amazon, After All
Roughly a month after the Brazilian government said it would open a wide swath of Amazon rain forest to mining interests, it has backpedaled on that controversial decision.

 

Colombia: New UN Mission Begins Operations; Focus on Reintegrating Ex-Fighters

The second post-conflict United Nations mission in Colombia has started its operations, succeeding the UN entity which was mandated to verify the implementation agreement between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) concerning the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and laying down of arms.

 

Investors Reward Argentina for Taming Inflation

Stocks? Up. Bond returns? Strong. The financial sector? Improving. Money managers have noticed.

 

Women Inc: Addressing India’s Gender Gap

India may be the fastest growing economies in the world but she still ranks 87th of 144 countries in the world ranking on closing the gender gap. Latest figure show an alarming dropout rate of women from jobs both at the highest level – the post graduate level – and at the lowest illiterate levels.

 

ADB Raises Growth Forecasts for Asia on Exports Revival

A rebound in global trade and improved prospects for China have provided a boost to Asian economies, prompting the Asian Development Bank to raise its growth forecast for the region.

 

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: September 22, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG
 

Credit Suisse Looks to Make an Impact with New Investment Wing

Credit Suisse has set up a new department to nurture socially conscious investing, the latest effort by a major bank to cater for growing demand for impact investing.

Barclays Launches Impact Investment Fund of Funds

Barclays has launched a fund of funds that invests in a global range of multi-asset ‘impact’ investment strategies.

Impax Acquires Pax to Create $14B Impact Investing Firm

Two impact investing leaders have combined to create a $13.9 billion investment management firm that will also have expanded research and client services capabilities.

 

United States & Europe
 

U.S. Governors at U.N. Assembly: ‘You Have Allies’ on Climate Change

The governor of California huddled on Sunday night with European, Brazilian and small-island leaders and pledged to work with them on climate change.

At Climate Week NYC, Business Leaders Charge Forward

From seminar rooms to soundstages to the crowded U.N. Plaza, one theme emerged from Climate Week NYC: Decarbonizing has become big business and will stay that way.

Theresa May Urges EU to Retain Trade Terms for Two Years after Brexit

PM Theresa May has said there should be a transition period of “about” two years after Brexit, during which trade should continue on current terms.

 

Developing Economies
 

Less Foreign Borrowing, Longer Bonds Offset Rise in Emerging Debt Levels

A large-scale shift towards domestically issued and longer-dated bonds in emerging markets has helped build resilience to external shocks despite the increase in overall debt levels.

Brazil Set for Largest Amazon Restoration Project Ever – Aiming to Recover 30,000 hectares by 2023

A major initiative has been announced that will seek to reclaim 30,000 hectares of degraded area within the Brazilian Amazon over the next six years.

Peru Loses Its Prime Minister. What Next?

The president has suffered a blow, but may recover from it.

Peru’s PM: New Cabinet to Revive Slumping Public Investments

Peru’s prime minister said on Monday that the country’s new Cabinet will focus on reviving public investments as it seeks to mend fences with the opposition party that forced President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski to form a new government.

Chile’s Electricity Should Be 100% Renewable by 2040, Says Conservative Presidential Candidate

The goal is that by 2040, Chile has a 100 percent clean and renewable electricity grid and a 100 percent electric public transit system.

Mexico Earthquake Kills Hundreds, Trapping Many under Rubble

A powerful earthquake struck Mexico on Tuesday, toppling buildings, killing children in a school that collapsed, rattling the capital and sending people flooding into the streets for the second time in just two weeks.

Emerging Markets – Emerging Stocks at 3-yr Highs as Tech Surge Lifts Asian Bourses

A surge in technology stocks helped lift Asian bourses to decade highs and emerging market shares to three-year highs on Monday.

South Africa Sees No Hurry for New Coal and Gas Projects

South African programs to add coal and gas power generation from independent providers should wait until policies are updated and the nation’s future needs are clearer.

How Colombia’s 2018 Elections are Going to Seriously Affect Governability

Almost all Colombia’s presidential candidates announced to run without the support of political parties, making it unclear how the incoming leader will govern the country. In total, 29 candidates have announced to be running without the support of a political party.

South Africa Economy Bruised but Not Broken Amid Political Turmoil and Downgrade

South Africa extricated itself from a ‘technical’ recession, despite being slapped with a credit downgrade.

Tanzania: State Injects 85bn/ – in Rural Communication, Benefits 3,000 Villages

Tanzania’s government has so far spent over 85 billion to provide rural dwellers in 3,000 villages with communication services.

Zambia to Resume Talks with IMF in October over Possible Aid Program

Zambia will resume talks with the International Monetary Fund on an aid program in October and hopes to get IMF board approval by the end of the year.

Presidents of Zambia, Uganda and Malawi Renew Efforts to End Child Marriage

President Edgar Lungu of Zambia, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Peter Mutharika of Malawi have pledged to support efforts in ending child marriage in Africa by 2030.

Kenyan Election May Be Delayed Over Results System, Nation Says

Kenya may have to delay a rerun of its presidential election scheduled for next month if the Supreme Court requires the country to host the results-transmission system.

 

Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: September 15, 2017

Posted on by MBC Strategic

Impact Investing & ESG

Barclays Launches an ‘Impact Investing’ Fund Seeded by Harvey McGrath in Response to Demand

Barclays has developed and launched an impact investment vehicle, seeded by Sir Harvey McGrath and designed to reflect the social conscience of the modern investor; together they believe conscience and credible returns can be compatible.

 

 

Open Daily: The Impact Data Flywheel Starts to Spin

The impact data flywheel is starting to spin. ImpactAlpha’s Operation Impact series has highlighted advances that are starting to make it possible to add “impact” (to risk and return) as a core consideration in investment decision-making. The series has explored: the new culture of transparency around impact financing and performance; higher-value, lower-cost data about the real impact of investments on customers and communities; and crisp, comparable data to drive improvements in impact management.

 

Impact Investments in India Don’t Mean Lower Returns for Investors: McKinsey

Busting the myth that impact investing means lower returns, a recent report by McKinsey shows that impact investments in India have demonstrated an ability to employ capital sustainably while meeting the financial expectations for investors. This has resulted in impact investments in India topping $1 billion for the second year in a row in 2016. The value of impact investments reached $1 billion for the first time in 2015, and surpassed that in 2016 with $1.1 billion investments.

 

 

Millennials are Driving a Shift in How the Ultra-Wealthy Manage Their Money

Family offices, which manage the money of the super rich, are focusing more on philanthropy and impact investing, according to a report out by UBS, the Switzerland-based financial services firm. Over 40% of family offices are set to ramp up allocation towards sustainable or impact investments, which seek to deliver outsized returns and remedy environmental and social ills, according to the report.

 

ESG Assets Top $164 Billion in Q2

Assets invested in environmental, social, and governance strategies topped $164 billion as of June 30; the average fund size was $562 million and there were about 290 active funds. While assets have grown nearly 20% since the end of 2015, and 60% since the end of 2012, the number of available funds has decreased from 2015’s peak of 324, and has since hovered around 300 total funds.

 

Growth, Millennial-Driven Impact Investing in New Global Family Office Report 2017

Sara Ferrari, head of global family office group at UBS, said the 2017 report showed as millennials became more involved in their family offices, they were nudging along the trend towards impact investing, with 40% of family offices saying they planned to increase their allocation in this investment class over the next year.

 

Innovations in Financing Structures for Impact Enterprises: Spotlight on Latin America

Growing interest in the financing needs of impact enterprises has given rise to meaningful experimentation in deal structuring and the emergence of some early good practices among entrepreneurs and investors. Three clear trends have emerged: a growing appetite for different forms of capital, an emerging marketplace of innovation in financing structures, and an increasing need to do more. This report was prepared to foster the flow of more capital that is adequate for early and growth-stage impact enterprises in light of these trends. The research and exploration done for the report was supplemented with direct engagement with fund managers, asset owners, and impact entrepreneurs to ensure its applicability to their work.

 

ADB Proposes New Approaches to Financing Energy Projects

Governments of cash-strapped developing nations should start exploring a range of innovative financing solutions to support the development of environment-focused infrastructure projects such as financially bankable solar installations, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says in a new report.

 

The 2017 Best for the World Honorees

A total of 846 businesses across 52 industries from 48 countries are recognized on the full list of 2017 Best for the World honorees.

 

United States & Europe

U.S. Stocks Reach Another Milestone as S&P 500 Vaults Past 2,500

The benchmark gained 0.2 percent to 2,500.23 Friday, capping its biggest weekly advance since January, as technology shares rebounded and banks climbed with Treasury yields. Up 12 percent since January, the S&P 500 is on course for its best annual gain in four years.

 

 

Developing Economies

Nigeria Announces $5.8 Billion Deal for Record-Breaking Power Project

The 3,050-megawatt Mambila hydroelectric power project in the state of Taraba will be delivered by a consortium of Chinese state-owned construction firms. The megaproject will feature four dams between 50 and 150 meters tall, and take six years to complete, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, told reporters in Abuja.

 

Are Women Entrepreneurs the Key to Global Economic Development?

Today women are as likely as men to recognize the business opportunities around them. In Africa and most of Asia, fear of business failure rates among women are equal to or less than that among men. Women consider themselves strong innovators. In developing countries in particular, the opportunities offered by women entrepreneurs help grow markets and increase employment prospects.

 

$19 Billion in Emerging-Market Debt Boils Down to the Dollar

Investors have poured $19.2 billion into local-currency emerging-market debt funds this year. That’s the fastest pace of flows since 2010, helping to drive some of the biggest returns on record.