iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM)

Emerging markets continued to expand at a solid pace midway into the first quarter of 2024, supported by broad-based expansion across both manufacturing and service sectors.

The iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF suffered heavy outflows this week, according to public data, leading to a tenfold drop in the assets managed by the exchange-traded fund focused on sustainable emerging-market companies.

Past experience shows us that emerging markets have historically reacted positively to higher global rates, especially if the latter reflects an improving global growth outlook. Most emerging markets will start normalizing rates well before the U.S. and developed markets.

Investors are taking a shine to exchange traded funds that track socially responsible investments, like those based on environmental, social, and governance principles. According to FactSet data, investors have funneled a record $27.4 billion in to ESG-related ETFs so far in 2020, doubling the size of the asset category, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Asian markets rose in August to seal the best regional performance in EMs. Stocks in China, India and Indonesia posted notable gains.

Allocating to smaller companies can help broaden an EM allocation by providing a different mix of exposures to opportunities across countries and sectors.

Back in the simpler days of 2019, there was this (now completely forgotten) impending crisis in which emerging market countries' dollar-denominated debt was going to blow up their - and by extension the rest of the world's - economies.

Defining a depression as opposed to a recession is open to wide interpretation. Recessions are a natural part of the credit cycle.

The emerging markets had a solid July 2020, up roughly 7% depending on the proxy you use. VWO and OAKIX represent uncorrelated holdings for the growthier positions in client accounts.

The size and speed of the dollar’s fall are driven more by euro strength flowing out from the ECB’s move toward debt mutualization than by dollar weakness.

It's been a remarkable decade for the S&P 500 Index. Less so for global benchmarks.

Emerging markets provided us a great warning for the decline experienced earlier in 2020. Emerging markets are now setting up for a multi-year rally.

Why we think EM equity asset class will be among the most attractive investment opportunities over the next decade.

We believe compelling opportunities exist for investors in EM stocks at a time when many emerging economies - especially Asia excluding Japan - are recovering from the virus-related sudden stop in activity.

Today, China's economic recovery continues ticking along, and we are even seeing some indicators showing growth relative to last year.

From a sector and industry perspective, we're starting to see hints of cyclicality returning to the marketplace after taking the last several weeks off (read: summer doldrums).