RI journalists

The latest news on the Covid-19 outbreak and responsible investment

The latest ESG movers and shakers

Defensive equity strategies aim to protect investors during a crisis while also providing better risk-adjusted return compared to the cap-weighted index, through exposure to the Low Volatility risk factor. Scientific Beta has launched a new defensive strategy that aims to address two important drawbacks of traditional defensive offerings. • Traditional defensive solutions based on minimum volatility or low volatility strategies are unfortunately not truly defensive in periods of high market volatility, at a time when lower risk is needed most. To address this volatility risk, Scientific Beta provides a highly defensive strategy that targets a constant volatility equal to the strategy’s historical volatility by dynamically reducing the strategy’s market beta during periods of crisis when market volatility is elevated. This feature provides very strong capital protection compared to more traditional defensive strategies. • Traditional defensive strategies also suffer from high carbon exposure compared to a cap-weighted index, which in turn exposes these types of strategies to climate risk. Scientific Beta offers its new defensive strategy with a sharp reduction in carbon exposure compared to traditional defensive strategies and cap-weighted indices without sacrificing the defensive properties of the strategy. Speaker Eric Shirbini, PhD, Global Research and Investment Solutions Director, Scientific Beta Moderator Hamish Stewart, Responsible Investor

The week's responsible investment news

The latest news on the Covid-19 outbreak and investment

The latest news on the Covid-19 outbreak and investment

The latest ESG movers and shakers

The week's responsible investment news

The latest coronavirus / investment news

The EU’s Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (TEG) released the final report on the new green taxonomy on 10 March. This first webinar of RI’s spring EU Action Plan webinar series will explore the advice made by the TEG, its practicality for investment outcomes, and its effects on other green finance policies and investment products including the EU Green Bond Standard, and the EU Ecolabel for finance products. How are companies and investors responding? Led by Hugh Wheelan, RI co-founder and joint managing director, this Q&A session will look at: What are the most important elements of the March 10 technical guidance from the TEG to the European Commission, and where exactly is the Taxonomy at in terms of applicability and relevance? How are companies already responding to the Taxonomy: market examples. What could this mean going forward: comply or explain: what would comply look like, or why explain, and what would explain look like? How do investment managers view the Taxonomy in terms of investment applicability, reporting, product development and strategic relevance. How will the Taxonomy actually mobilise corporate activity and investment? Speakers: Brenda Kramer, Senior Advisor Responsible Investment, PGGM and Member of Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, European Commission Seb Beloe, Partner and Head of Research, WHEB Asset Management Nicolas Redon, Senior Analyst - Green Finance, Novethic Moderator: Hugh Wheelan, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director, Responsible Investor