Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: November 17, 2017

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.