Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

I am an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) analyst with an alpha-centric approach to ESG research. After all, ESG investing is, first and foremost, investing. "Alpha-centric" does not mean apathetic, however. Quite the contrary. I believe global sustainability – i.e., environmental stewardship, social equality, and economic prosperity – is imperative, and private-sector capital is its cornerstone. Private-sector capital still has fiduciary responsibilities. Profitability is necessary for sustained impact. The Triple Bottom Line. People, Planet, AND Profit.

More importantly, you. I value your investment in Smartkarma research, and commit to Insights worthy of your time and money. That means giving ASEAN ESG the attention it deserves, and with Insights that are substantive and differentiated; the intersection of material and under-covered. You can expect investigative research into emergent ESG issues; data-driven analyses of deals (pre-IPO ESG research, ESG-focused M&A consequence analyses, etc.); and trading-oriented ideas like ESG short selling and playing ESG index constituency changes.

I bring both ESG expertise and traditional investing experience, as well as some rather unique perspectives on ESG (a lesson in governance from Enron, anyone?). I spent the last decade exclusively on ESG, researching links to equity returns, credit ratings, cost of capital, and yield spreads. I also contributed to ESG reporting standards (SASB and GRI), and the MBA curriculum (Impact Investing) at the Kellogg School of Management. Previously, I was an Institutional Investor and Wall Street Journal All-Star sell-side analyst at J.P. Morgan.

Please, feel free to contact me about anything.

HKEx (388.HK): Slowing Trading Activities, but Long-Term Growth Intact

HKEx (388.HK): Soft 4Q21 Trading Volume; Expect Muted Quarterly Earning Results

HKEx (388.HK): Latest COVID Outbreak Weighted Trading Activities

<ul>
<li>Hang Seng Indexes launched two new sustainability/ESG indexes, the HSI ESG Screened Index and the HSI Low Carbon Index. Hang Seng is doing a good thing; advancing ESG in Asia.</li>
<li>Both are based on the Hang Seng Index. HSI ESG Screened Index is essentially ESG factor-tilted with a minor exclusionary screen. Straightforward, and with top ESG ratings firms behind it.</li>
<li>I do, however, have a few thoughts about the HSI Low Carbon Index. Call them observations, or experienced-based opinions, or similar. Food for thought kind of stuff, nothing critical.  </li>
</ul>


Hang Seng Indexes launched two new sustainability/ESG indexes, the HSI ESG Screened Index and the HSI Low Carbon Index. Hang Seng is doing a good thing; advancing ESG in Asia.
Both are based on the Hang Seng Index. HSI ESG Screened Index is essentially ESG factor-tilted with a minor exclusionary screen. Straightforward, and with top ESG ratings firms behind it.
I do, however, have a few thoughts about the HSI Low Carbon Index. Call them observations, or experienced-based opinions, or similar. Food for thought kind of stuff, nothing critical.  


Hang Seng's New ESG-Themed Indexes Will Help Promote ESG in Asia (Some Thoughts On the Carbon Index)

HKEX

Hang Seng's New ESG-Themed Indexes Will Help Promote ESG in Asia (Some Thoughts On the Carbon Index)