Firm’s newest benchmarks offer new possibilities in factor and ESG investing
MSCI has broadened its shelf of fixed-income tools and solutions for institutional investors with a new suite of ESG and factor indexes.
“We are pleased to bring next generation fixed income indexes to market,” Jana Haines, head of Index Products, Americas at MSCI, said in a statement. “Investors are increasingly demanding ESG integration across all asset classes and looking to Factors – such as Carry, Quality, Value, Size and Risk – to more precisely define how they can better identify, measure and manage risk and return in their portfolios.”
The 15 new indexes, which the company said are meant to support investors’ ESG and factor-based fixed-income investment strategies, include:
Issuance-weighted
- MSCI USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index
ESG
- MSCI USD IG ESG Universal Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG ESG Leaders Corporate Bond Index
Factors
- MSCI USD IG Carry High Exposure Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Low Risk High Exposure Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Quality High Exposure Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Value High Exposure Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Size High Exposure Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Multi-Factor High Exposure Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Carry Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Low Risk Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Quality Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Value Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Size Corporate Bond Index
- MSCI USD IG Multi-Factor Corporate Bond Index
“Investors are facing market conditions driven by macroeconomic and geopolitical events, industry dynamics and the increased role of data and technology,” said Peter Zangari, Global Head of Research and Product Development at MSCI. “Our fixed income solutions help investors assess and manage opportunity and risk, while responding to demand for improved transparency and operational efficiency.”
