Does pension fund fiduciary duty prohibit ESG integration?

This study analyses more than 1,500 firms from 26 developed countries over a 77 months period using ratings supplied by EIRIS. The results show zero indications that the integration of aggregated or disaggregated corporate environmental responsibility ratings into pension fund investment processes has any detrimental financial effect.

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MSCI improves factor risk modelling for equities

The most recent Barra US Equity Model, USE4, contains some important innovations in factor risk modelling, including the introduction of country risk factors, volatility regime adjustments, and eigenfactor risk adjustments. Amanda White spoke to executive director and head of equity factor model research at MSCI, Jose Menchero, about what that means.

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Harvard favours emerging markets and absolute returns over fixed income

Harvard Management Company (HMC), which manages the $32 billion Harvard endowment, has made significant alterations to its policy portfolio, including increasing allocations to emerging market equities and the externally-managed absolute returns program, while slashing fixed income allocations.

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CII releases “say on pay” report examining investor voting motivations

The Council of Institutional Investors (CII) has released a report analysing investor motivation for voting against the “say on pay” proposal at companies where the motion failed to receive majority support at annual meetings this year. The study, conducted by independent executive compensation and performance consultancy Farient Advisors, examines how the new “say on pay” … Read more