For four decades, State Street Global Advisors has served the world’s governments, institutions and financial advisors. With a rigorous, risk-aware approach built on research, analysis and market-tested experience, we build from a breadth of active and index strategies to create cost-effective solutions. As stewards, we help portfolio companies see that what is fair for people and sustainable for the planet can deliver long-term performance. And, as pioneers in index, ETF, and ESG investing, we are always inventing new ways to invest. As a result, we have become the world’s third largest asset manager with US $2.51 trillion* under our care. *AUM reflects approximately $32.45 billion (as of December 31, 2018), with respect to which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) serves as marketing agent; SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.
August 13, 2019
From a macro perspective, de-globalisation should therefore work like globalisation in reverse, though this is unlikely to be in a perfectly symmetrical manner. Trade-dependent economies are most vulnerable, with small to middle open economies challenged to revamp their growth models.
August 6, 2019
As the longest bull market on record runs onwards, aided by unusually accommodative policy for this point in the cycle, we would expect to see volatility rise across a range of asset classes amid greater policy and data uncertainty.
August 1, 2019
July 30, 2019
July 23, 2019
July 5, 2019
In my role as the head of Research for SPDR® Americas, I am often asked to debunk myths about ETFs and their influence on the market. Fixed income ETFs are having a record month of inflows this June, and an old myth has resurfaced that index-based investment strategies—both mutual funds and ETFs—are having an outsized impact on the fixed income market, distorting bond prices and producing a passive bubble.
June 25, 2019
Age has a way of sneaking up on all of us, including our clients. Life experiences may make us wiser, but they don’t protect us from the natural decline of cognitive capabilities as we age. A proactive contingency plan can help protect clients from potential financial risks associated with a decline in cognitive health.
June 4, 2019
The expense ratio discussion is always top of mind with investors, and continues to garner attention as we still regularly see headline-making reductions from ETF issuers.
May 28, 2019
Financial decisions often stir up powerful emotions and awaken old habits. Being an effective sounding board demands technical knowledge of planning and investing, as well as an understanding of how behavioral economics can impact a client’s decision-making process.
May 14, 2019
Home-country bias is a common phenomenon in which investors tend to allocate a large majority of their portfolio to investments in their home country. The result? Portfolios have a concentrated country exposure, limiting potential returns, as well as diversification.
May 7, 2019
The trend line is unmistakable: environmental, social and governance investing (ESG) is big—and growing. According to new research by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), impact investing assets stand at US$502 billion globally as of December 2018, nearly double the previous year’s assets of US$228 billion. Impact strategies seek to include, rather than exclude, proactively targeting specific positive outcomes. For example, a broad ESG fund may avoid companies with high carbon emissions, while an impact fund may hold shares of a private equity fund invested in clean energy infrastructure projects.1
April 30, 2019
ESG. It’s one of the fastest growing areas of investment today. Representing 1-in-4 of every dollar that is professionally managed, sustainable investing is being integrated into portfolios at 17% each year.1 And yet, for all the investor interest and excitement around ESG, companies struggle to understand what information to report, how to report it, and the relevance of ESG information to investors. For State Street Global Advisors, we believe financially material ESG factors can impact a company’s long-term performance. Our goal is not just to build ESG portfolios but also to encourage companies to focus on issues that matter while providing them with the transparency to meet those expectations. This is the only way to create sustainable markets and long-term value for investors.
April 23, 2019
Is the world really as black and white as a Rorschach inkblot test? Maybe… but maybe not. Traditionally speaking, when it comes to how we view the world, there are two schools of thought: optimism and pessimism. Glass half full or glass half empty. In reality, most of us will actually fall somewhere in between on the optimism/pessimism spectrum. Where we fall along that spectrum is a fundamental human trait1 reflective of our cognitive biases.
