array(1) { [0]=> &object(stdClass)#5803 (52) { ["id"]=> string(5) "16722" ["title"]=> string(112) "Has the property market reached its peak; Biden’s climate summit and our sharemarket, and the upcoming budget " ["alias"]=> string(107) "has-the-property-market-reached-its-peak-biden-s-climate-summit-and-our-sharemarket-and-the-upcoming-budget" ["introtext"]=> string(156) "

On this episode of The nestegg Podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and three experts discuss the latest in equities, property investing and super.

" ["fulltext"]=> string(949) "

Steve Waters, director of Right Property Group, chats about the subdued April price growth and how prices are predicted to move for the remainder of the year.

RMIT’s senior lecturer of finance, Dr Angel Zhong, talks about the Biden climate summit and impacts on the Australian sharemarket, as well as the possibility of a carbon border tax and what it means.

And lastly, tax and super guru Timothy Munro gives his thoughts on the overhaul of the superannuation performance test and the upcoming budget.

Have a question for our experts? Get in touch at [email protected] and you might get featured on the next episode.

" ["checked_out"]=> string(1) "0" ["checked_out_time"]=> string(19) "0000-00-00 00:00:00" ["catid"]=> string(3) "302" ["created"]=> string(19) "2021-05-04 05:28:58" ["created_by"]=> string(4) "2404" ["created_by_alias"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> string(1) "1" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2021-05-04 06:34:30" ["modified_by"]=> string(4) "2404" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(12) "Robyn Tongol" ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2021-05-04 06:34:30" ["publish_down"]=> string(19) "0000-00-00 00:00:00" ["images"]=> string(240) "{"image_intro":"images\/podcasts\/230221_Angel_Zhong_Steve_Waters_Timothy_Munro.jpg","float_intro":"","image_intro_alt":"","image_intro_caption":"","image_fulltext":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(121) "{"urla":false,"urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":false,"urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":false,"urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(855) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_associations":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_icons":"","show_print_icon":"","show_email_icon":"","show_vote":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","video_url":"","channel_id":"UCLBR-2LtTtui_WiRuEfW3qA","send":"0","test":"0","comments":"1","readingDiff":"3","schema_active":"0","schema_name":"","schema_description":"","schema_thumbnailUrl":"","schema_uploadDate":"","schema_duration":"","schema_contentUrl":"","schema_embedUrl":"","canonical_link":""}" ["metadata"]=> string(68) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","xreference":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(90) "property, market, reached, peak, biden’s, climate, summit, sharemarket, upcoming, budget" ["metadesc"]=> string(200) "On this episode of The nestegg Podcast, host Maja Garaca Djurdjevic and three experts discuss the latest in equities, property investing and super. Steve Waters, director of Right Property Group, " ["access"]=> string(1) "1" ["hits"]=> string(3) "133" ["xreference"]=> string(0) "" ["featured"]=> string(1) "0" ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> string(3) "949" ["ordering"]=> string(1) "0" ["category_title"]=> string(7) "Podcast" ["category_route"]=> string(17) "resources/podcast" ["category_access"]=> string(1) "1" ["category_alias"]=> string(7) "podcast" ["published"]=> string(1) "1" ["parents_published"]=> string(1) "1" ["lft"]=> string(2) "82" ["author"]=> string(12) "Robyn Tongol" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["parent_title"]=> string(9) "Resources" ["parent_id"]=> string(3) "300" ["parent_route"]=> string(9) "resources" ["parent_alias"]=> string(9) "resources" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#5807 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#5678 (95) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(180) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, property and stock market." ["secure"]=> int(0) ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["page_heading"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator"]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2021-05-04 06:34:30" ["slug"]=> string(113) "16722:has-the-property-market-reached-its-peak-biden-s-climate-summit-and-our-sharemarket-and-the-upcoming-budget" ["catslug"]=> string(11) "302:podcast" ["link"]=> string(126) "/resources/podcast/has-the-property-market-reached-its-peak-biden-s-climate-summit-and-our-sharemarket-and-the-upcoming-budget" ["image"]=> string(65) "images/podcasts/230221_Angel_Zhong_Steve_Waters_Timothy_Munro.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(0) "" } }

Latest Podcast

Has the property market reached its peak; Biden’s climate summit and our share...

Resources

There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...

Invest

Do you know your ESG from your SRI?

By Matthew Picone

June 03 2020
Share

Invest

Do you know your ESG from your SRI?

By Matthew Picone
June 03 2020

Both socially responsible investments (SRI) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments have seen significant investor interest recently, as global, local and social media coverage of issues such as COVID-19, climate change, modern slavery and plastics pollution has increased, writes Matthew Picone.

Do you know your ESG from your SRI?

By Matthew Picone

June 03 2020
Share

Events such as the Australian bushfires and widespread criticism of corporate culture of various firms have highlighted the need for deeper understanding of the companies in which we all invest.

Consider the numbers: in 2017, ESG investments grew by 25 per cent from 2015 to $US23 trillion, accounting for about one-quarter of all professionally managed investments globally.

In a recent study by KPMG International, more than one-third (36 per cent) of C-suite and board members surveyed indicated that investor pressure had increased the company’s focus on ESG.

Selecting the ‘right’ investment

When considering which investments most closely align with their views and values, it is important for investors to understand that responsible investment is a very broad term, encompassing a range of investment styles.

SRI typically refers to the divestment of companies whose business activities focus on socially objectionable industries. Examples include tobacco or gambling, but definitions can vary widely based on investors’ own social views and beliefs.

We view ESG, on the other hand, as having a greater focus on company fundamentals and, subsequently, investment outcomes. It is broader in the range of issues covered (i.e. it also considers environmental and governance themes) and also in the way it can be integrated, whether it is a negative screen, portfolio constraint or factors within the investment decision-making process itself.

When considering the ESG style of an investment manager, there are a number of areas for investors to consider. For example, does the manager integrate ESG issues into its core investment process? The reason for this is that investment managers who consider ESG issues material to the performance of a company generally have a better chance of maximising risk-adjusted returns for investors.

Investors should also consider how active the manager is in engaging with the companies in which it invests. Active owners communicate with companies they invest in and vote on important company issues to help determine the future direction of the company.

The best ESG managers also issue extensive reporting on their practices — whether that is portfolio composition, risk exposures or engagement practices — and clearly display this information for investors to digest.

Most thorough and sophisticated investment managers should be incorporating some level of ESG assessment into their traditional strategies. However, sustainability parameters vary by investment manager depending on their style, process and level of ESG integration.

ESG is a term that is overused by many in the wealth management industry. It requires more than a tick-the-box approach, more than an ESG overlay. ESG elements provide myriad factors that can make a difference to your investments. ESG can be a proxy for management quality; it can be a warning indicator for companies carrying greater risk.

At Acadian, we incorporate a range of material ESG factors when assessing investment targets. Many of these apply across our entire investment universe, while others vary by region and industry. We make these considerations on a consistent and ongoing basis, not just a few times a year.

Investors need to do the same. ESG can help them improve their returns.

Matthew Picone is vice-president and portfolio manager at Acadian Asset Management and a member of the advisory committee of the Australian chapter of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

Forward this article to a friend. Follow us on Linkedin. Join us on Facebook. Find us on Twitter for the latest updates

Rate the article

Investment insights

How Aussies can invest like Warren Buffett

Arguably the most successful investor of the modern age, Warren Buffett is still the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at 90 years old, and currently has a net worth of over $100 billion, writes ...Read more

Investment insights

Pahari leaves AMP as it pursues demerger

In yet another twist, AMP has announced its intentions to pursue a demerger of its private markets business, a move that has seen it kill off its takeover negotiations with Ares Management and Boe Pah...Read more

Investment insights

Business warned on COVID vaccine policy backlash

Businesses that pressure staff into getting a COVID-19 vaccine are being warned they could face discrimination, harassment, bullying and employment abuse claims, according to an industry expert. ...Read more

Investment insights

5-step guide to teaching kids about money

It’s never too early to start teaching kids about money and how to manage it. With the added challenges associated with COVID, it’s never been more important either! ...Read more

Investment insights

Why ethical investing is at a tipping point

Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell said it best: “Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push – in just the right place – ...Read more

Investment insights

Ares withdraws from AMP bid as wealth manager’s financial results spell trouble

The bad news keeps rolling in for AMP, with the wealth manager reporting a significant drop in profit as its US bidder, Ares Management Corp, announces that it is backing out. ...Read more

Investment insights

‘RBA not responsible for asset prices’, governor says

RBA governor Philip Lowe has said that the Reserve Bank is not responsible for targeting asset prices, after questions were raised about the creation of raging bull markets against the backdrop of l...Read more

Investment insights

Retailers report strong HY21, with Super Retail set to refund JobKeeper

Certain Australian retailers are flourishing despite the government-mandated temporary store closures in 2020, with JB Hi-Fi reporting good sales growth and Super Retail Group pledging to hand back $1...Read more