Finastra Unveils Bank Climate Sandbox with Green RWA

FinTech Finastra has partnered with Green RWA to create a tool that enables banks manage climate risks, including those facing their assets. The Climate-Extended Risk Model (CERM) Sandbox calculates physical and transition risks to its portfolio and loan book as well as its own operations.

ICO Recommends Privacy Enhancing Technologies

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is recommending organisations start using privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) to share personal information safely, securely and anonymously. These types of technologies open unprecedented opportunities for organisations to harness the power of personal data through innovative and trustworthy applications, by allowing them to share, link and analyse people’s personal information without having access to it.

The ICO has launched new PETs guidance, which is aimed at data protection officers and others who are using large personal data sets in finance, healthcare, research, and central and local government.

JPMorgan Launches Platform to Make ESG Data Easier to Use

JPMorgan Securities Service has unveiled a sustainability data interrogation and integration tool for clients. The Sustainable Investment Data Solution, available through the bank’s cloud-based Fusion platform, is designed to make it easier for clients to use ESG data, which is provided by multiple vendors, including Bloomberg and Sustainalytics.

ESG Risk Tool to be Reviewed by ISS ESG

ISS ESG is to adjust the methodology and data underlying its Environmental & Social Disclosure QualityScore product. The environmental and social risk assessment tool will undergo changes by the third quarter in response to changed disclosure standards. The Maryland-based sustainable investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services said more than 150 factors underlying the score would be reviewed, with 60 new additions and 50 retired.

Bloomberg Offers Full Funds Data Suite, Including ESG

Bloomberg has included ESG information in a major new product that provides transparency into almost 150,000 funds and exchange traded products. The Funds Data Solution also offers foundational, holdings, corporate actions, risk and regulatory data.

Linedata Publishes 2023 Global Asset Management Survey

Linedata has published the results of its 2023 Global Asset Management Survey, revealing a focus on operational efficiency, digital transformation, and client experience. The survey is designed to provide insights into the priorities and challenges asset management firms are facing and includes responses from 265 industry leaders across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

The report notes factors that are shaping asset management, including continuing digital transformation led by automation, data integration pain points exemplified by ESG, outsourcing, AI adoption, and the journey to cloud. In support of these factors, it identifies key trends across the asset management community including the need to increase operational efficiency – which is top of the strategic agenda, technology spending priorities on risk management, including compliance, and portfolio and operational risk; intensifying demand for ESG data; and acceleration towards adopting flexible operating models.

Novata Platform Incorporated into IQ:EQ ESG Offerings

Novata, an ESG data provider to private markets and investors, has signed a deal to embed its services with investor assistance group IQ:EQ. US-based Novata’s portfolio assessment platform will be incorporated into IQ:EQ’s various ESG solutions, which enable clients to gather, manage and deploy sustainability data.

WEF Convenes Team to Oversee ISSB Standards

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has brought together a team of experts to offer best-practices guidance to the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The group will monitor implementation and adoption of ISSB’s first set of standards, which are set to be unveiled by the end of this month, and offer insights and advice.

Arabesque Builds ESG Index with HSBC

Data vendor and asset manager Arabesque has jointly created an AI-supported ESG index with HSBC. The ESG Risk Improvers Index uses publicly available data and data from Arabesque’s ESG Book, a sustainability metrics platform built for financial institutions in conjunction with several large international banks.

GaiaLens Builds News Sentiment Tracker

A news sentiment scoring tool has been created to help investors gauge the ESG performances of listed companies. AI-backed GaiaLens Momentum AI assesses the scores against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, giving investors real-time visibility into their investments’ activities before they issue their periodic reports.