Featured Pathways

More pathways

Banking Essentials - Part I

This pathway will walk us through the basics of banks, starting with some of the different types and their main functions, then starting to look at the regulation faced by the banks, both before and after the Global Financial Crisis.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the act of distributing false information about something being more environmentally friendly than it actually is.

More pathways

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Finance Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis

In this video, Max discusses the cost-of-living crisis currently enveloping the UK. He examines its impact on households as well as the overall economy.

CSR and Sustainability in Financial Services

In the first video of this two-part video series, Elisa introduces us to sustainability. She begins by looking at the difference between sustainability and corporate social responsibility, two terms that can be easily confused.

More featured content

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Featured Pathways

More pathways

Banking Essentials - Part I

This pathway will walk us through the basics of banks, starting with some of the different types and their main functions, then starting to look at the regulation faced by the banks, both before and after the Global Financial Crisis.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the act of distributing false information about something being more environmentally friendly than it actually is.

More pathways

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Finance Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis

In this video, Max discusses the cost-of-living crisis currently enveloping the UK. He examines its impact on households as well as the overall economy.

CSR and Sustainability in Financial Services

In the first video of this two-part video series, Elisa introduces us to sustainability. She begins by looking at the difference between sustainability and corporate social responsibility, two terms that can be easily confused.

More featured content

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Book a demo

Ready to get started?

Portfolio Level ESG Integration II

Portfolio Level ESG Integration II

Arun Kelshiker

20 years: Asset management and stewardship

In this video, Arun explores ESG integration across asset classes. He also talks about historical trends in applying ESG, compare screening for companies and funds, optimising ESG portfolios, and understanding ESG in passive investing.

In this video, Arun explores ESG integration across asset classes. He also talks about historical trends in applying ESG, compare screening for companies and funds, optimising ESG portfolios, and understanding ESG in passive investing.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Portfolio Level ESG Integration II

14 mins 4 secs

Key learning objectives:

  • Understand how ESG has historically been applied to various asset classes

  • Understand how ESG screening varies between individual companies and collective investment funds

  • Understand how ESG integrated portfolios can be optimised

  • Understand how to integrate ESG into passive portfolios

Overview:

ESG integration varies in depth and approach across asset classes. Equities are at the forefront in terms of transparency and shareholder engagement, while fixed income has lagged in ESG adoption. Hedge funds are steadily adopting ESG, as reflected in the PRI's revised frameworks. In private equity, investors commonly employ exclusionary screens, but partners are pivoting to positive ESG screening. Real estate investments offer distinct ESG prospects, with organisations like GRESB providing tailored insights. Screening methods pinpoint ESG risks in both individual companies and broader funds. Balancing risk-return with ESG objectives is vital when refining ESG-integrated portfolios. While ETFs and other passive portfolios are ramping up ESG integration, they face distinct hurdles in active engagement and possible diversification constraints.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Summary
How can ESG screens be applied to various asset classes?
Historically, ESG application varied across asset classes. Fixed income lagged behind equities due to limited ESG data, especially in government debt and high yield credit. In contrast, listed equities embraced higher ESG integration, leveraging transparency and shareholder voting rights. Hedge funds gradually began incorporating ESG into portfolios, while private equity used exclusionary screens, though with limited benchmark diversity. Real estate and infrastructure, given their direct ownership models, provided better ESG control and organisations like GRESB further streamlined ESG integration in these areas.

How does ESG screening of individual companies compare to collective investment funds?
For individual companies, ESG screening identifies risks and opportunities associated with environmental, social, and governance factors, such as carbon emissions and labor practices. This analysis can lead to portfolio weight adjustments relative to market benchmarks. In comparison, collective investment funds, like mutual funds or ETFs, undergo ESG screening through approaches like negative, positive, and norms-based screening. These screenings target specific objectives, from avoiding poor ESG performers to adhering to international standards, requiring a methodical process of criteria identification, oversight, and regular reviews.

How can ESG integrated portfolios be optimised?
Optimising ESG-integrated portfolios involves managing risk and return dynamics. Investors use asset weights within portfolios to maximise returns for a given risk level. When integrating ESG considerations, it serves as an additional factor that could enhance the portfolio's risk and return profile. Portfolio optimisation techniques can set bounds for variables like ESG datasets or carbon emissions levels, applied both absolutely and relatively compared to a benchmark. Balancing desired ESG outcomes with tracking error relative to the benchmark is crucial to prevent underperformance.

How can ESG be integrated into passive portfolios?
Integrating ESG into passive portfolios, like ETFs that track market indices, has evolved since the introduction of MSCI's KLD 400 social index in 1990. Innovative passive ESG investing approaches now incorporate strategies like smart-beta, weighting indices towards style factors while screening for high ESG performance. Notable examples include MSCI’s New Factor ESG Target indices and investments by large organizations like CalSTRS and GPIF. However, there are challenges, such as unintended portfolio biases due to exclusions, and passive strategies often lack the deep engagement activities seen in active investing.

Subscribe to watch

Access this and all of the content on our platform by signing up for a 7-day free trial.

Arun Kelshiker

Arun Kelshiker

Arun Kelshiker was formerly the Head of Asset Allocation and Portfolio Strategy at Standard Chartered Bank and part of the bank's Global Investment Committee, where he provided investment advisory and multi-asset portfolio solutions. His focus is now with Cambridge Sustainable Investment Partners, which draws its expertise from the Resilience and Sustainable Development Centre at Cambridge University. He is also a university lecturer at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and is Vice Chair of the CFA UK's Inclusion and Diversity Committee and its Investment Committee.

There are no available Videos from "Arun Kelshiker"