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Philips Pensioenfonds, in collaboration with index and analytics provider Qontigo and asset manager BlackRock, has successfully aligned its € 370 million emerging markets equity portfolio with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The mandate, managed by BlackRock, tracks a custom equity benchmark, the iSTOXX® PPF Responsible SDG Emerging Markets Index.

A new Qontigo article revisits the concept of tracking error, a metric that’s gaining even more attention amid the growth of sustainable portfolios. Hamish Seegopaul, Global Head for Index Product Innovation at Qontigo, addresses some key questions, including: How should the various degrees of tracking error be interpreted? Does the metric tell us much in terms of the future? And can we control this?

Technology strong, but breadth weak in the US market; No sector has dominated non-US returns, and more stocks have beaten the index.

This article provides a high-level refresher of what tracking error means, and how we can embed it directly into portfolio construction.

Risk and volatility should not always be perceived as negative. According to Melissa Brown, Head of Applied Research at Qontigo, increased volatility often brings about opportunities.

Investor sentiment continued to improve in most markets we track last week on the back of better-than-expected Q1 earnings reports.

Investors are right to focus on the US debt ceiling showdown these days, instead of key upcoming economic releases including the May jobs report. While a US default would unleash global economic Armageddon, markets have been relatively calm so far.

The ISS STOXX Biodiversity Index Suite, launched this week, aims to take a more holistic approach to biodiversity than existing market offerings, Antonio Celeste, Director for Sustainability Product Management at index, analytics and risk solutions provider Qontigo, told ESG Investor.