Merryn Somerset Webb

Most fund managers, however their funds are labelled, don't consider E and S to be a top performance driver.

Doubts about ESG funds aren’t slowing their spread

In the first half of 2024, only 31 per cent of UK-focused active equity funds beat the average passive fund in their sector.

Challenging the passive versus active fund wisdom

Across the board, mentions of DEI and ESG in earnings calls with companies have fallen fairly dramatically as has their prominence in presentations.

ESG and DEI policies were always luxury goods

Austrian Marlene Engelhorn, from the family that owns Germany's chemical giant BASF, speaks as she holds a placard reading "Tax the rich!" at the entrance of the Congress Centre on the opening day of the WEF on Jan 15, 2024.
PERSPECTIVE

The rich don’t need to beg for more tax; they can just pay it

Perhaps “dirty” industries — with their massive diesel machines, low levels of diversity and disruptive use of resources such as water – are actually “doing good” by enabling a low-carbon future.
WEALTH & INVESTING

The tyranny of ESG has run its course

The Tokyo Stock Exchange closed the Jun 14 session with the Nikkei index at 33,502.42 points, the highest close in over 33 years.
WEALTH & INVESTING

It’s finally time to buy Japan

Technology names such as Microsoft are heavily represented in passive index funds because the bigger the market capitalisation, the greater the weighting in the index.

It’s time to switch from passive to active investing