Ahren Lester

Articles by Ahren Lester

  • Sovereigns lead 2023 sustainable bond issuance back to growth

    10 January 2024

    Resurgent green bond issuance and record-breaking activity from governments edged the sustainable bond market back close to $1 trillion in 2023, Ahren Lester reports

  • Iberdrola secures €300m EM-focused 'sustainability-linked green' loan

    10 January 2024

    Iberdrola has signed a €300 million ($328 million) sustainability-linked green loan with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which will be used to finance renewable energy projects in coal-reliant emerging markets.

  • Dedicated transition funds 'needed to drive change'

    09 January 2024

    Dedicated "transition" strategies can help "preserve clarity" in the sustainable investment sector and drive real change in the economy, said Altius Asset Management (Altius AM),...

  • SMF raises IDR700bn from 'milestone' Indonesian social bond, sukuk

    09 January 2024

    State-owned housing finance firm Sarana Multigriya Finansial (SMF) has raised IDR700 billion ($45 million) from a dual-tranche social bond and social sukuk as it launches an IDR9.5 trillion issuance programme.

  • NZBA to publish accountability mechanism in 'coming weeks'

    08 January 2024

    The Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) will in "coming weeks" publish details of its procedure for engaging with members not meeting their commitments, ahead of a deadline for the founding members of UN-convened alliance to report their targets.

  • ESG fund flows outperform broader market in 'resilient' 2023

    08 January 2024

    The flows into environmental, social and governance (ESG)-focused funds "outstripped" the broader market in 2023 despite overall inflow totals remaining lower than recent records, according to Barclays research.

  • Corporate sustainable bond issuance 'slump' to reverse in 2024, says Barclays

    05 January 2024

    Corporate sustainable bond issuance in 2024 is forecast to reverse following a two-year "slump" as US dollar supply returns to growth following a sharp decline in 2023, according to Barclays.

  • Paul Tang: EU must emphasise transition finance

    05 January 2024

    The EU has been too focused on 'green' in its sustainable finance, the Dutch MEP tells Ahren Lester

  • Barclays: UK 'Sustainability Improvers' fund label risks being 'catch-all'

    04 January 2024

    The 'Sustainability Improvers' label under the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) voluntary fund labelling rules risks being a "catch-all" investment category, warned Barclays.

  • NZBA welcomes first Chinese member but suffers second bank exit

    04 January 2024

    The Bank of East Asia (BEA) has become the first Chinese member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), but US lender Blue Ridge Bank also became only the second member to "withdraw from" the UN-convened industry group.