E-newsletter of Investing for the Soul April 29, 2008
Ron Robins, Editor. E-mail /705-635-3034 Latest news at: www.investingforthesoul.com
Top ethical investing news stories for April 2008
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Links may only be valid a limited time Commentaries by Ron Robins
KPMG Report
Outlines Climate Change Risks For Various Types Of
Businesses. -
[COMMENTARY]
By publishing this report, KPMG has performed an
important service for both companies and investors.
For companies, the report cites four types of
climate change risks: regulatory, reputational,
physical and litigious, and shows their effects on
different business sectors. For investors, this
report could be used as a helpful guide to analyse
how companies are performing in regard to dealing
with these climate change related risks, and assist
them in determining the best stocks that are good to
invest in with regard to climate change.
Climate Changes Your Business, April 2008, KPMG,
Netherlands.
US Islamic Fund
Wins Top Honours. -
[COMMENTARY]
This year's Lipper Fund Award winner in the equity
category -- which has over 200 funds -- is the Amana
Trust Income Fund with close to $400 million in
assets. The manager, Nicholas Kaiser, credits his
success to the Sharia principles that guide him in
his investment selections. He has won this award for
two years in a row. Well done Mr. Kaiser!
Managed By God, by Michael Maiello, April 21,
2008, Forbes.com, USA.
Social Stock
Exchange Proposed For UK. Rockefeller Doing Study.
-
[COMMENTARY]
The concept is to provide a stock market where all
listed companies meet certain environmental, social
and governance criteria. This could be really
interesting for socially responsible and ethical
investors. It will be well worth watching. If it
works in the UK, where government support appears to
be there for it, the concept will spread fast around
the world. Such an exchange could make it easier to
find ethical stocks that are good to invest in.
Rockefeller backs ‘social’ stock market, April
15, 2008, iNSnet.org (originally published in the
Financial Times), UK.
Financial Institutions Need To Understand The
Business Case For Biodiversity, Says United Nations
Environmental Program's Finance Initiative (UNEPFI).
-
[COMMENTARY]
Though this report is principally aimed at
management in the finance sector, it is fascinating
reading, particularly also for those investing in
this area as well.
The Business Case for Biodiversity, March 2008,
United Nations Environmental Program's Finance
Initiative (UNEPFI), Switzerland.
Overview Of
US Faith-Based Mutual Funds. -
[COMMENTARY]
There are not too many reviews on faith-based funds.
This is a brief, interesting one for US spiritual
investors. It is worthwhile to note that Sharia
(Islamic) funds are doing especially well as they do
not invest in financial stocks due to their
prohibition on investing in companies who receive
interest income.
Fever Grows for Faith-Based Funds, by Liz
Wolgemuth, April 11, 2008, U.S. News & World
Report, USA.
Institutions
Selling Tax-Deferred Savings/Investment Plans In New
Zealand Required To State If They Have An Ethical
Investing Policy. -
[COMMENTARY]
As far as I know this is the first time any
government has asked such providers to say whether
or not they have an ethical investing policy.
Clearly, it is likely that any providers who do not
have such a policy could be at a disadvantage. The
policy came into effect April 1. Well done New
Zealand!
Winds of ethical change, April 8, 2008,
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand.
Article
Claims Leading Figures Behind Dow Jones Islamic
Index & Other Sharia Compliant Funds, Back Terror
Groups. -
[COMMENTARY]
The financial world's interest in Sharia (sometimes
spelt 'Shariah') compliant banking and investing may
undergo more scrutiny due to assertions that some
key figures backing it also back terrorist groups.
This will be an important area to watch in the years
ahead, as Sharia finance has been burgeoning. To me,
the pure concept of Sharia finance looks appealing
and fascinating as it has many of the attributes of
spiritual or ethical investing. However, it does
seem that 'background checks' of some of the leading
individuals behind it is warranted.
ATTACK ALERT: Wall Street and Sharia Finance, by
Alex Alexiev, April 6, 2008, B'NAI ELAM, Israel.
Note: Articles are linked to the original source. Some sites may require registration, and may, or may not, archive stories. All links were active at the time of publication.
Disclaimer: Neither The Soul Investor nor Ron Robins make investment recommendations. Nothing in this newsletter should be interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation to buy/sell any securities or investments. The Soul Investor is a source of general information and resources for spiritual investing, ethical investing, and socially responsible investing (SRI). Investors should consider their actions thoroughly and consult their professional advisers prior to taking any investment action. The Soul Investor does not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed in articles in its newsletter or offered on the web pages to which it might be linked. Such opinions are the responsibility of the writers themselves. Furthermore, The Soul Investor does not offer or provide any warranties, representations, guarantees, implied or otherwise, as to the accuracy, legality, copyright compliance, timeliness or usefulness of the information, materials or services in this e-newsletter, or other sites, to which it might be linked.
The Soul Investor is a publication of Investing for the Soul, a registered business name in Ontario, Canada. Copyright © 2008 Ron Robins. All rights reserved.