Ahren Lester

Articles by Ahren Lester

  • EU issues 'landmark' inaugural social bond to enormous demand

    20 October 2020

    The EU has issued its maiden social bond to enormous investor demand, in what has been described a "landmark" issuance.

  • Only a matter of time' before TCFD becomes mandatory in UK, says BofE

    20 October 2020

    Bank of England (BofE) markets executive director Andrew Hauser said you can "reasonably expect" adoption of recommendations outlined by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to become mandatory in the UK.

  • NBIM says investment exclusions could cost it NOK3bn a year

    20 October 2020

    The manager of the giant Norwegian sovereign wealth fund said its portfolio underperformed by 1.3 percentage points due to exclusions of companies based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns since 2006, which could cost it NOK2.8 billion ($300 million) in 'lost' returns if replicated in the future.

  • ESG fund assets set to jump to half total European market by 2025, says PwC

    19 October 2020

    The "wave has begun to break" for environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds in Europe, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), with ESG funds forecast to constitute the majority of European fund assets by 2025.

  • China's ETS: launch hope high as officials step up support

    16 October 2020

    Following their recently upgraded climate pledge, senior Chinese officials have given renewed backing to a national emissions trading system (ETS), reigniting hopes it will soon be built and be more ambitious, writes Ahren Lester

  • Macquarie and BT Pension push TPI support past $20trn

    16 October 2020

    Membership of the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) has surged past the $20 trillion milestone, just over three years after it was launched.

  • News Round Up: HSBC financing criticised, GE net-zero pledge, TPI growth surge

    16 October 2020

  • S&P: Gas 'squeezed' by downturn, but renewables face 'crucial' 2020

    15 October 2020

    The energy demand slump caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is set to "squeeze" gas demand, said S&P Global, amid "sticky" coal generation and persistent renewables growth - although renewables face their own challenges.

  • Nuveen Global Impact Fund makes first investment

    15 October 2020

    Nuveen Global Impact Fund has invested in battery storage technology firm Advanced Battery Concepts (ABC), representing its first investment after securing a first close in July.

  • Bond round-up: Paris, Unedic, NRW, Enel, Mizuho ... and more

    14 October 2020