| From across the nation and around the world, INSIGHTS-edge brings you news, commentary and research in key areas of interest regarding ESG, Sovereign Wealth Funds and US Public Sector Pension Funds. We watch the watchers...who are watching you. ESG / Sustainability SEC Guidance Addresses Disclosure of Climate Change Impacts
(Source: OMB Watch) The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) took a significant step last month toward expanding the scope and quality of corporate disclosures as they pertain to the environment. On Jan. 27, the SEC voted to provide guidance "clarify[ing] what publicly-traded companies need to disclose to investors in terms of climate-related 'material' effects on business operations, whether from new emissions management policies, the physical impacts of changing weather or business opportunities associated with the growing clean energy economy." How to Build a Framework for Sustainability 2.0
(Source: Greenbiz.com) For companies to succeed during these times of change, they'll need to define and embrace a rigorous framework for sustainability -- something that goes beyond well-intended but overarching statements and builds a foundation that helps a firm achieve its sustainability and business goals. Sovereign Wealth Funds From Sovereign Wealth to Sovereign Debt
(Source: The Trumphet.com) How fast the world changes these days! Two years ago when the annual summit of those who move and shake the world economy convened in Davos, Switzerland, all the talk was about how the rich nations should employ their sovereign wealth funds. One of the gurus on a Davos panel that predicted at that time those funds would rocket from 2.5 trillion to 15 trillion by the year 2015 was the ceo of Lehman Brothers. Sovereign Funds Load Up
(Source: SmallCapInvestor.com) It seems like every financial journal or publication has been extolling the benefits of gold over the last year. Sometimes widespread acceptance of a trend is a sure sign of a bubble waiting to pop. But that’s not the case with the precious metal right now, especially if you play the trend by investing in junior gold miners. It's true that gold miners stand to make big profits if the price of gold continues to increase from its current price of $1,120 an ounce. But even if it doesn't, these little companies still maintain big margins that ultimately trickle down to earnings. That’s because their gold recovery costs are essentially fixed - everything above those costs is pure gravy. The Chinese Are Selling Treasuries – So What Are They Buying?
(Source: Money Morning.com) In the monthly U.S. Treasury report this week, it was announced that China had sold $34.2 billion of Treasuries in December (or allowed short-term ones to run off), making Japan once again the largest holder of U.S. Treasuries. The People's Bank of China usually keeps its holdings a carefully guarded secret, much more so than for most central banks - our knowledge of its holdings of Treasuries comes from U.S. data, not from China. We do, however, have some evidence about the Chinese government's investment thinking, thanks to the holdings of China Investment Corp., the country's $200 billion sovereign wealth fund. | Visit INSIGHTS-edge to get the most up to date information. Contents © 2009
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| US Public Sector Pension Funds CalPERS Investment Practices Raising Ire
(Source: Globe St.com) SAN FRANCISCO-Critics of some of the California Public Employees' Retirement System's investment deals say the giant pension fund's participation in converting low-rent properties to market-rent apartments conflicts with its mission of socially responsible investing, according to an article in today's Wall Street Journal. Federal judge grants 3 Ohio pension funds class-action status over claims against AIG
(Source: Los Angeles Times) A federal judge is allowing shareholders suing insurance giant American International Group to proceed as a single class. Nation's $2.3 Trillion In Public Pensions Run By Dummies
(Source: Forbes) Here's a scary financial fact: The nation's $2.3 trillion in state and local pension assets are currently a half-trillion dollars short of what they'll need to pay out promised benefits. Here's an even scarier financial fact: These funds are overseen by people who lack basic money management skills, who are frequently swayed by political pressure--and who are counting on hiking your taxes to fill the breach if they come up short. Watching the Watchers  The Corporate Library
Headquarters: Portland, Maine
Established: 1999 Key Partners
IW Financial (Corporate Library provides data for IW Financial’s “IWF Workstation” offering) Overview/Mission
The Corporate Library staff are pioneers in the modern corporate governance movement. Some of the leaders came together in the former “Lens Fund,” headed by Robert A. G. Monks, and established TCL as a research and evaluation organization monitoring (most closely) board performance, especially in executive compensation areas. Statement from the Corporate Library: “Now in its tenth year, The Corporate Library provides independent corporate governance research and analysis to enable its clients to enhance value." Products and services summary: “We offer our clients a number of robust company research and analytic tools enabling them to uncover opportunities, manage risk, and make more informed [investment] decisions.” The Corporate Library is a professional service provider signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and “…helps PRI [corporate and other] signatories fulfill their commitments to the Principles by enabling clients to better assess risk through access to independent corporate governance research and analysis…” |
