A comprehensive study examining Swiss companies demonstrates that CO2 emission levels and intensities are not primary drivers of stock returns when compared to established financial characteristics like firm size and book-to-market ratios. The research shows that ‘brown’ firms with high emissions tend to be larger companies with lower book-to-market ratios, while ‘green’ firms are typically smaller with higher book-to-market ratios. Crucially, after controlling for exposure to standard risk factors, the return differences between high and low emission firms become statistically insignificant. These findings suggest that investors should prioritize traditional financial metrics over emission levels when making investment decisions, as carbon footprint alone does not appear to be a significant return determinant in the Swiss market.
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G-20 Finance Ministers Struggle Amid Trade War Tensions
The G-20 finance ministers’ meeting in South Africa faces challenges as global trade tensions, fueled by US President Donald Trump’s policies, divert attention from the host nation’s priorities, including debt relief and sustainable finance. Sanusha Naidu, a senior research fellow, highlights the difficulty in reaching consensus on key issues ahead of the G-20 Leaders’ Summit. The unpredictable nature of Trump’s trade policies adds further uncertainty to the outcomes of the discussions. The meeting’s success hinges on navigating these geopolitical and economic complexities to advance reforms in global development finance.
read morePolygon CEO Urges DeFi Shift to Chain-Owned Liquidity
Polygon CEO Marc Boiron advocates for a fundamental shift in DeFi liquidity management, urging protocols to move away from short-term yield strategies that rely on token emissions. Instead, he promotes chain-owned liquidity, where protocols build treasuries to directly own liquidity positions, ensuring long-term stability and capital efficiency. Boiron highlights Polygon’s POL token as a model for sustainable DeFi, emphasizing that protocols should prioritize fundamentals over flashy returns to attract institutional adoption. He predicts increased institutional involvement in DeFi within 12–18 months, driven by regulatory clarity and stable liquidity models. Boiron’s vision for 2026 includes a less volatile DeFi ecosystem with stronger governance and real-world asset integration, underpinned by sustainable economic models.
read moreBlockDAG’s X-Miners Series: Efficiency, Scalability, and Sustainable Operations
BlockDAG, a leading player in the cryptocurrency space, has garnered significant attention with its efficient and scalable BlockDAG technology. The company’s X-Miners series is notable for its high hashing power per watt and environmentally friendly mining practices, positioning it as a strong competitor in the Bitcoin mining arena. With a focus on sustainability and simultaneous processing on both Bitcoin and Kaspa networks, BlockDAG has generated substantial investor interest, reflecting confidence in its vision and technological advancements.
read moreMarathon Digital Utilizes Bitcoin Mining Heat to Warm Finland Town
Marathon Digital has launched a pilot project in Finland to utilize the heat from its Bitcoin mining operations to warm a community of 11,000 residents, marking its debut in Europe. By recycling the heat produced by data centers, the project aims to reduce carbon emissions, operating costs, and the need for carbon-emitting heat sources, while also exploring new revenue streams and advancing sustainable practices in the crypto-computing industry.
read moreStudy Reveals Lack of Environmental Stewardship Among Swiss Asset Managers
A study on environmental-conscious asset managers in Switzerland revealed that none of the top 14 firms met the basic criteria for effective environmental stewardship, leaving the top three spots empty in the 2024 rating. Despite banks and insurance companies committing to climate goals, the asset management sector was found to contribute insufficiently, prompting Greenpeace Switzerland to prepare a financial sector initiative demanding stricter stewardship practices aligned with climate and biodiversity targets.
read moreLGT Switzerland CEO Discusses Digitalization and Market Growth Strategy
Anke Bridge-Haux, CEO of LGT Switzerland, discusses the bank’s strong growth in the Swiss market, the impact of the Credit Suisse-UBS merger, and the potential for further expansion in the French-speaking region. She also highlights LGT’s focused digital strategy and the role of artificial intelligence in improving internal processes and customer interactions. With a global investment of 200 million Swiss francs in digitalization, LGT aims to enhance operational efficiency and innovation across its international operations.
read moreValiant Unveils New Strategic Goals for 2025-2029 Period
Valiant, a Swiss retail bank, has set new strategic goals for the next four years, focusing on increasing profitability and maintaining a capital ratio between 15 and 17 percent. The bank aims to achieve higher shareholder value through growth, efficiency improvements, and annual dividend increases. The strategic directions include simplicity, revenue diversification, efficiency enhancement, employee development, and sustainability, with a focus on customer accessibility, expanded services for SMEs, streamlined processes, and adherence to ESG guidelines.
read moreJ Stern & Co. Wins Best Management Award at Zwei Wealth Conference
J. Stern & Co. won the 2024 Best Management Award at the Zwei Wealth Office Conference. Chris Rossbach, the Co-Founder and CIO, highlighted the company’s focus on long-term and sustainable investments, emphasizing quality as a fundamental aspect of their investment strategy. The firm’s approach involves a broad investment strategy, including stocks, corporate bonds, and emerging market bonds, tailored to meet the individual needs and goals of their clients. Rossbach also discussed the future of asset management, emphasizing the importance of offering customer-oriented solutions that provide potential returns in an environment characterized by sustainable growth and persistent inflation.
read moreNew Finma Chief Advocates Strengthening of Banking Oversight and Intervention
The new head of Finma aims to strengthen oversight of banks by intervening earlier based on warning signs, and escalating actions when necessary. He emphasizes the need to regulate non-bank financial institutions and address the interconnectedness between banks and entities like private equity firms and credit funds, while also highlighting the importance of learning from past financial crises to further develop regulation and supervision for a sustainable financial sector.
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