February marked a particularly volatile month for capital markets with fears intensifying over the new coronavirus (COVID-19) turning into a pandemic as the number of new cases appearing outside of China outpaced those within China. In response, the CBOE Volatility … Continued
For the third year in a row, the Unitarian Universalist Association filed a shareholder resolution with Blackrock asking the company to improve its disclosure of lobbying expenditures and policies. The proposal was nearly identical to that in the 2019 proxy statement. … Continued
After turning in a stellar performance in 2019, equities initially started the new decade on a high note, bolstered by a trade pact between the United States and China. However, optimism quickly gave way to fear amid the outbreak of … Continued
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced new rules that would severely limit the ability of investors to file shareholder resolutions. The SEC proposals are a particular threat to proposals addressing environmental and social issues. On January 28, the … Continued
This week, ExxonMobil quietly published its 2020 Energy & Carbon Summary, the company’s latest report in response to rising shareholder demands for improved climate risk disclosure. Kathy Mulvey, Chair of the UUA Socially Responsible Investing Committee, says investors should not be duped by … Continued
Global equities went out with a bang, building on their already robust returns for the year, with the MSCI ACWI Index up 26.5% in 2019. US stocks led the charge with the S&P 500 Index returning 31.5% for the 12 … Continued
The world’s largest fossil fuel producers don’t have credible plans for achieving net zero carbon emissions, despite claiming they support the Paris Agreement. Investors must expect more, question more, and tolerate less from fossil fuel companies—and tell them to swiftly … Continued
Following a relatively quiet month, developed equities ended higher as improving economic data assuaged near-term fears of a slowdown. US markets led the way with the S&P 500 Index increasing 3.6% during the month, adding to year-to-date gains of 27.6% … Continued
Investors embraced risk assets in October amid more accommodative monetary policies from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, and renewed optimism around the outcomes of Brexit, and the trade war between the United States and China. In equities, … Continued
The UUA joined 200 institutional investors with a combined $6.5 trillion in assets under management in calling on 47 of the largest corporations in the US to align their climate lobbying with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The announcement from … Continued