June Monthly Commentary
Global markets seesawed in June as investors turned their attention to Greece’s negotiations with its creditors and deliberated the likelihood of yet another bailout. In the early part of the month, developed market equities responded positively as Greece and its creditors appeared to be making progress. But these gains were subsequently reversed when Greek Prime […]
Socially Responsible Investing and the UUA
In past years, it has been one of the UUA’s Socially Responsible Investment Committees’ goals to bring increased responsibility and change to the financial industry. In the past, notions about fiduciary responsibility have often superseded the responsibility that some investors have felt about their investments. Even we at the UUA have often struggled with the […]
May Monthly Commentary
US equities bounced around in May with trading marked by low volume and changing sentiment as investors grappled with the potential impact of mixed economic data on the Federal Reserve’s timing of a rate increase. Smaller-cap issues fared better than their large-cap counterparts due, in part, to a sustained strong dollar prompting trade headwinds for […]
April Monthly Commentary
International equities surged in April, with the MSCI EAFE Index gaining 4.1%, as monetary easing policies in Europe and Japan emboldened investors. Emerging market stocks also rallied as investors embraced the likelihood that the Fed would delay raising rates in light of softening economic data at home. The MSCI EM Index returned 7.7% last month, […]
UUA Response to Shareholder Resolutions on Holy Land Principles
This spring for the first time, resolutions are appearing on several US companies’ proxy ballots asking them to adopt the Holy Land Principles, a set of employment principles for companies operating in Israel and the Occupied Territories. One has come to a vote so far, at General Electric. After much discussion with advocates and experts […]
March Monthly Commentary
Stocks reversed course in March amid subdued economic data, expectations of lower US earnings growth, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. The S&P 500 finished the month down 1.6% amid weaker than expected GDP growth of 2.2% in the fourth quarter and a declining earnings forecast fueled by low oil prices and a stronger dollar which affects […]
UUCEF Clients – Important Notice Effective March 15, 2015 Changes to Statement Delivery and Payment Method
We have recently completed implementation of new software used for transaction accounting of congregational, affiliate organization, and UUA endowment accounts and trusts held in the Common Endowment Fund. This new software will provide transactional information and additional statement information to our clients via a web-based online environment. The new software and other process changes are […]
Newly Released Study on likely Stranded Coal Burning Assets
In the investment and environmental communities, there has been a lot of discussion about stranded energy assets in the last few years. A recent article in the Guardian state that US and Chinese companies top the list of most polluting coal plants. This article from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and the research […]
American Electric Power should support clean energy in Ohio
Recently, Tim Brennan, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the UUA was interviewed by Cleveland.com. As the fifth largest investor-owned utility in the country, American Electric Power has the potential to lead the industry in clean energy. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are increasingly cost-effective options for utilities seeking to lower their carbon emissions, diversify their […]
July Monthly Commentary
The Greek debt crisis and a steep sell-off of overheated local equities in China dominated headlines in July. However, it was slowing growth out of China—the world’s second largest economy—that seemed to have the most pervasive impact on markets. Commodity prices experienced a double-dip in July after recovering off first quarter lows with the Bloomberg […]