Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

I am an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) analyst with an alpha-centric approach to ESG research. After all, ESG investing is, first and foremost, investing. "Alpha-centric" does not mean apathetic, however. Quite the contrary. I believe global sustainability – i.e., environmental stewardship, social equality, and economic prosperity – is imperative, and private-sector capital is its cornerstone. Private-sector capital still has fiduciary responsibilities. Profitability is necessary for sustained impact. The Triple Bottom Line. People, Planet, AND Profit.

More importantly, you. I value your investment in Smartkarma research, and commit to Insights worthy of your time and money. That means giving ASEAN ESG the attention it deserves, and with Insights that are substantive and differentiated; the intersection of material and under-covered. You can expect investigative research into emergent ESG issues; data-driven analyses of deals (pre-IPO ESG research, ESG-focused M&A consequence analyses, etc.); and trading-oriented ideas like ESG short selling and playing ESG index constituency changes.

I bring both ESG expertise and traditional investing experience, as well as some rather unique perspectives on ESG (a lesson in governance from Enron, anyone?). I spent the last decade exclusively on ESG, researching links to equity returns, credit ratings, cost of capital, and yield spreads. I also contributed to ESG reporting standards (SASB and GRI), and the MBA curriculum (Impact Investing) at the Kellogg School of Management. Previously, I was an Institutional Investor and Wall Street Journal All-Star sell-side analyst at J.P. Morgan.

Please, feel free to contact me about anything.

SGX FIRST Launches ESG Futures Putting It in the Company of ESG Derivatives Leaders ICE and Eurex

The Rise of the Chief Sustainability Officer in Asia

Singapore Exchange – Into Merlion’s Mouth

SGX FIRST Puts SGX First in the Ranks of Asia's Most Sustainable Stock Exchanges

SGX (SGX SP): Market Under-Rates Its Growth Potential

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

In <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/asia-exchanges-lead-in-esg-hkex-jpx-sgx" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:34447" rel="noopener">Asia Exchanges Lead in ESG: HKEX, JPX, SGX</a>, I assessed and benchmarked the world's financial exchanges on their contributions to sustainable/ESG investing and finance, and general Corporate Social Responsibility performance. Much has transpired, so it is time for an update... of sorts."Of sorts," because this version focuses exclusively on listed Asian exchange stocks, employs a more robust assessment/benchmarking model, and incorporates additional (previously-unavailable) data points. In short, it is more targeted, substantive, and actionable. Less breadth, more depth.The first analysis was based more on aspirations than on accomplishments because few exchanges had accomplished anything at that point. This version reflects real-world progress, and the results are significantly more insightful. The "downside," however, is information-overload.Therefore, this Insight addresses methodology and overall results (scores, rankings), and I will dive deeper into specific subjects (e.g., ESG derivatives) and exchanges separately. The Asian exchanges herein are: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asx-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:552:1" rel="noopener">ASX Limited (ASX AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bombay-stock-exchange" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23694:1" rel="noopener">BSE Limited (BSE IN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bursa-malaysia-bhd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17112:1" rel="noopener">Bursa Malaysia (BURSA MK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-exchanges-clearing" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:490:1" rel="noopener">HKEX (388 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/japan-exchange-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11266:1" rel="noopener">Japan Exchange Group (8697 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nzx-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10696:1" rel="noopener">NZX Limited (NZX NZ)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-exchange-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1047:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Exchange (SGX SP)</a>.

In Asia Exchanges Lead in ESG: HKEX, JPX, SGX, I assessed and benchmarked the world's financial exchanges on their contributions to sustainable/ESG investing and finance, and general Corporate Social Responsibility performance. Much has transpired, so it is time for an update... of sorts."Of sorts," because this version focuses exclusively on listed Asian exchange stocks, employs a more robust assessment/benchmarking model, and incorporates additional (previously-unavailable) data points. In short, it is more targeted, substantive, and actionable. Less breadth, more depth.The first analysis was based more on aspirations than on accomplishments because few exchanges had accomplished anything at that point. This version reflects real-world progress, and the results are significantly more insightful. The "downside," however, is information-overload.Therefore, this Insight addresses methodology and overall results (scores, rankings), and I will dive deeper into specific subjects (e.g., ESG derivatives) and exchanges separately. The Asian exchanges herein are: ASX Limited (ASX AU), BSE Limited (BSE IN), Bursa Malaysia (BURSA MK), HKEX (388 HK), Japan Exchange Group (8697 JP), NZX Limited (NZX NZ), and Singapore Exchange (SGX SP).

Sustainable Stock Exchanges: SGX, HKEX Are Shaping the Future of Sustainable/ESG Investing in Asia