Frankfurt-based Solactive AG has launched the Ethical US Equity Index, designed to follow U.S.-listed ethical stocks selected according to a best-in class-approach.
The index has been licensed to BNP Paribas, which will use it as underlying for investment solutions, including structured products, Solactive says.
The Ethical US Equity Index is the second index launched by Solactive, following the Ethical Europe Equity Index in April 2013, also licensed to BNP Paribas.
“The Ethical US Equity Index tracks the price movements of stocks that have a high dividend, relatively low historical volatility and, above all, that pass several strict corporate social responsibility screens. By doing so, the index combines standard financial objectives together with the investors’ rising demand for social, environmental and ethical tools,” said Steffen Scheuble, CEO, Solactive, in a release.
“Sustainable investments have cemented their place in capital markets while investors are increasingly incorporating ethical considerations into their investment choices, leading to a growing interest in sustainable products. Therefore, this second index solution was a natural extension of the product range, giving access to our clients to a basket of US ethical stocks,” said Neven Graillat, European head of sustainable investment client solutions, BNP Paribas.