XxX | Feature Contents Editorial
RESPONSIBLE INVESTING AND COVID
The marketing says that investing for the good of the environment and society not only lowers risk but could also generate higher returns over the long term. There has been the odd bout of volatility in certain markets since 2008’s financial cri- sis, but markets have been relatively calm for years. Enter Covid-19 and the economic turmoil it has brought, which includes a record contraction of the UK’s GDP, a spike in unemployment and the government borrowing billions of pounds in an attempt to create stability.
This is the first real test of the ethos behind responsible investing and ESG. Will such strategies outperform traditional approaches to portfolio construction? Will they protect investors from a damaged economy? Time will tell. Until the picture becomes clearer, portfolio institutional brought together five asset owners who favour responsible investment strategies to find out what is happening in their portfolios during this pandemic. You can read what they have to say from page 24. Our ESG coverage does not end there. On page 34 we look at how investors can benefit the environment and society through their property portfolios. With returns from investment-grade debt falling, investors have turned to other assets to generate much needed income and there is plenty of potential to make bricks and mortar greener and boost peoples’ wellbeing. We also look at stewardship and passive investing to see how index and ETF managers are meeting their responsibility of being active shareholders. You can start reading from page 40. Outside of ESG, we speak with Rob Schreur, the chief investment officer of National Grid’s pension scheme, to find out how he and his team adapt to changing markets (pages 18-21). Finally, with stock markets becoming increasingly concentrated should investors be thinking more outside the box when it comes to stock picking? Read our view from page 44.
Stay safe.
Mark Dunne Editor
m.dunne@portfolio-institutional.co.uk
Issue 97 | October 2020 | portfolio institutional | 3
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