The price of gold has recently climbed from one high to the next. The rally seems almost puzzling due to a number of negative factors in the first half of the year. However, two reasons in particular provided plenty of tailwind. Can the rally go even further?
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The new age of protectionism
The path towards a clearly fragmented global economy is continuing. Recently, the increase in tariffs on Chinese electric cars in the USA and the European Union has been particularly noticeable. What impact is the rise of protectionism having on the global economy?
After Biden’s withdrawal: What plans does Kamala Harris have for the economy?
The withdrawal of incumbent US President Joe Biden from the presidential race is bringing new momentum to the election campaign. Kamala Harris, currently Vice President under Biden, is now seen as the likely Democratic candidate. What policies could Harris stand for and what plans could she have for the US economy?
Microfinance: A journey through emerging Kenya
Kenya is one of the largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa and is currently the most heavily weighted country on the African continent in the ERSTE RESPONSIBLE MICROFINANCE fund. Fund manager Martin Cech therefore recently visited the country and a number of companies and microcredit borrowers.
News from the world of active ownership: the Voting & Engagement Report 2023 is here!
The Voting & Engagement Report 2023 provides interesting insights into our voting behavior and our corporate dialogues over the past year. In terms of engagement in particular, there are some new companies with which we are actively engaging to promote greater sustainability.
Biodiversity: Engagement for our nature
Around 8.7 million different species live on Earth – and they all provide important “ecosystem services”. This is precisely why the protection of biodiversity is essential. In the area of engagement, this year we are focusing on the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and are making contact with one of the world’s largest corporations in this sector.
The wolf and the eight little goats: a climate-saving reinterpretation
The basis for a sustainable transformation is solid structures at the management level of companies – this also applies to the oil and gas industry. However, the most recent example of a prevented shareholder proposal shows that there is still a lot of room for improvement in this area too.
How do climate leaders find their way into our fixed-income portfolios?
Sustainability factors are actively integrated into the investment process in our bond portfolios. This ensures that climate risks are minimized and climate opportunities are actively seized in our corporate bond funds. Fund manager Matthias Hauser explains exactly how this works.
Integrated equity research, or: what is this “ESG” thing in my portfolio all about?
How are sustainability factors integrated into the equity analysis and what aspects does a fund manager look at in the companies? Our Austrian equity fund manager Bernhard Haas explains this using an example company.
Engagement and voting – worth our while?
Dialogue with management and the active exercise of voting rights are intended to encourage companies to operate in a more environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner – engagement & voting is the keyword. But what are the benefits of these measures? An overview of scientific studies on this topic provides interesting results.