| 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 Social Investment Form: SEC Climate Disclosure Action Important First Step
(Source: Social Investment Forum) Washington, D.C. – The 400-member Social Investment Forum (SIF), the U.S. membership association for socially and environmentally responsible investment professionals and institutions, today applauded the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its decision to issue definitive guidance to companies on disclosing climate change risks to investors. Many senior energy executives optimistic about 2010
(Source: Houston Chronicle) Despite the toll 2009's tumultuous economic climate took on many oil and gas companies, more top industry executives are bullish in their outlook for 2010, according to Grant Thornton's eighth annual Survey of Upstream U.S. Energy Companies. RiskMetrics Rises on Report It Put Itself Up for Sale
(Source: BusinessWeek) RiskMetrics Group Inc., a proxy adviser, advanced the most in 10 months after the Wall Street Journal reported the company had put itself up for sale. Restoring Trust in Corporate Governance
(Source: Ben Heineman, BusinessWeek) The business community faces a crisis in confidence both in its own ranks and in broader society. Many are asking: How can corporations govern themselves more effectively—and truly be held accountable? Sovereign Wealth Funds Africa ponders how to manage new wealth
(Source: Reuters) DAVOS, Switzerland - As Africa moves from a significant fiscal deficit largely funded by aid to a continent with a fiscal surplus, the search is on for a framework to manage countries' resource-driven wealth. Clean tech: can sovereign wealth help?
(Source: Reuters) It may seem like a perfect match. If sovereign wealth funds, which manage assets of $3 trillion, invested in clean tech, they could help plug the chronic shortage of funding to tackle climate change. |
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| US Public Sector Pension Funds Public Pension Funds' Move to Employ Leverage: Strike Three
(Sources: Seeking Alpha) In the late 1990s, pension funds decided that it would be a good idea to purchase stocks near the peak of the technology bubble. Strike one. In the mid 2000s, the idea was to join the private equity and hedge fund wave sweeping over Wall Street just in time for the 2008 financial crisis. Strike two. Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that public pension funds have decided to employ leverage in order to boost the low returns offered by bonds. Big state pension funds back climate-change disclosures
(Source: Los Angeles Times) The country's two largest public pension funds -- the California Public Employees' Retirement System and the California State Teachers' Retirement System -- are applauding the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a groundbreaking ruling on climate change Watching the Watchers  Pensions Investment Research Consultants Ltd. (PIRC)
Headquarters: London, England
Established: 1986 KEY PARTNERS
Local Authority Pension Fund Forum; for European Corporate Governance Service: Proxinvest, Deutsche Schutzvereinigung für Wertpapierbesitz (DSW), Corporate Governance Services Spain sl, Ethos, Dutch Sustainability Research/Sustainalytics OVERVIEW / MISSION
Pensions Investment Research Consultants Ltd summarizes its work: “PIRC is the UKs' leading independent research and advisory consultancy providing services to institutional investors on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.” |
