As ESG investing continues to evolve, so do the funding mechanisms many companies, organizations, and governments use to finance their stated goals. Indeed, ESG-focused financial products, or ‘green assets’, have been growing in volume – as well as by type. In the fixed income space alone, instruments available to investors include green bonds, social bonds, sustainability-linked bonds, climate awareness bonds, gender bonds, and others – not to mention a growing list of ESG-themed exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
ESG-focused Financial Products
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ESG-focused Financial Products
This course is part of ESG Investing: Financial Decisions in Flux Specialization
Instructor: Steven Levine
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4.8
(12 reviews)
Beginner level
Recommended experience
22 hours to complete
3 weeks at 7 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Describe various characteristics of green assets, including the supply, demand, and performance of green bonds.
Discuss how ESG fund flows have evolved.
Evaluate and compare certain ESG-themed ETFs
Explain the principles and frameworks behind the issuance of different ESG-related fixed income products.
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Assessments
6 assignments
Taught in English
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This course is part of the ESG Investing: Financial Decisions in Flux Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 6 modules in this course
This module centers on several types of green assets, including green bonds and social bonds, and the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) role in providing the driving principles behind their issuance. You should be able to explain who is selling these instruments, as well as some of the fixed-income related risks inherent in these types of products. Other green assets such as ESG-themed ETFs, and certain commodities are also introduced.
What's included
2 videos3 readings1 assignment2 peer reviews
This webinar, “The Global State of GSSS Bonds”, presented by James Cardamone, associate director of ESG product at FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, takes a deeper look at some of the financial instruments associated with ESG investing – many of which have recently witnessed an increasing groundswell of supply and demand. Through this presentation, you should acquire a better picture of ESG-related fixed income products, such as green, social, sustainable, and sustainability-linked bonds, how to analyze them, and, ultimately, make better informed investment decisions. Among other topics, Cardamone explores the allure behind these fixed-income products, who is selling and buying them, how they differ from conventional bonds, and what purposes they serve within the ESG investing sphere.
What's included
3 videos3 readings1 assignment
“The Global State of GSSS Bonds” webinar continues with James Cardamone, associate director of ESG product at FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, demonstrating green bond performance, the ‘greenium’ effect, and delves further into how to evaluate green bond issuers, as well as analyze their performance in the secondary market.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment
“The Global State of GSSS Bonds” webinar continues with James Cardamone, associate director of ESG product at FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, addressing participants' questions about ESG scoring, and green washing – topics that will also be echoed in later lessons.
What's included
2 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review
The next series of videos introduces you to ESG-themed ETFs, another asset class in the sustainability-related space, including a broad overview by Ron DeLegge, founder of ETFguide and host of the series ETF Battles. In that introduction, DeLegge offers insights into how standards vary across these products, as well as presents four of the top US-listed ETFs by assets, which may be used to begin your research. DeLegge is then joined by two analysts, who compare and contrast three index-based, ESG-focused ETFs from iShares and Vanguard – with their evaluations formed on the bases of cost, exposure strategy, performance, and more – demonstrating how you can follow their analytical strategies for your own investing decisions.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment1 peer review
Readings in this module home in on the principles underlying different types of ESG-related fixed income products, examines certain specific bonds, as well as delves into certain government policy underpinning the rise of green asset supply, product diversity, and fund flows. We’ve also provided some commentary and research that addresses certain critical challenges of green bonds that you may factor into your analyses.
What's included
1 video12 readings1 assignment2 peer reviews
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