{"id":402714,"date":"2020-12-18T08:03:24","date_gmt":"2020-12-18T13:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=402714"},"modified":"2020-12-18T08:03:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T13:03:24","slug":"worlds-largest-asset-owner-japans-government-pension-investment-fund-selects-new-gender-diversity-index-launched-by-morningstar-in-collaboration-with-equileap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/worlds-largest-asset-owner-japans-government-pension-investment-fund-selects-new-gender-diversity-index-launched-by-morningstar-in-collaboration-with-equileap\/","title":{"rendered":"World’s Largest Asset Owner, Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, Selects New Gender Diversity Index Launched by Morningstar in Collaboration with Equileap"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

New index weights constituents based on 19 gender equality criteria provided by Equileap<\/h2>\n

PR Newswire<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\n TOKYO<\/span>, Dec. 18, 2020<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ —\u00a0Morningstar, Inc.<\/a> (Nasdaq: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment research, today announced the launch of the Morningstar\u00ae Developed Markets ex-Japan Gender Diversity Index\u2120<\/a>, a new index powered by the data and scoring methodology of Equileap<\/a>, a global provider of data and insights on gender equality for investors.<\/p>\n

Seeking long-term better risk-adjusted returns, Japan’s<\/span> Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world’s largest pension fund with approximately $1.5 trillion<\/span> in assets under management as of June 2020<\/span>, incorporates not only financial factors but also environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in its investment decisions and now tracks the Morningstar Developed Markets ex-Japan Gender Diversity Index. The Morningstar Developed Markets ex-Japan Gender Diversity Index is designed to provide exposure to developed market companies exhibiting strong gender diversity policy and practices, leveraging the Equileap Gender Equality Scorecard\u2122.\u00a0Investor demand for ESG has increased drastically in the last decade; Morningstar research<\/a> shows global assets in sustainable funds hit a record high of $1.2 trillion<\/span> as of September 2020<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n Ron Bundy<\/span>, president of Morningstar Indexes<\/b>, said: “During a tumultuous year consumed by a global health and economic crisis in which research shows working women pay a disproportional toll, transparent practices and policies that advance gender representation should be top of mind for companies. We are thrilled to be working with Equileap and GPIF on a meaningful endeavor that we believe will have the potential to not only act as a catalyst to shape corporate behavior but also help investors achieve their financial goals.” <\/p>\n

\n
\n Yu-Tsung Chang<\/span>, president of Ibbotson Associates Japan, Inc.<\/b>,\u00a0 a wholly owned Morningstar company in Japan<\/span> that worked on this initiative, said: “It’s a privilege to work with GPIF on this initiative to drive greater awareness of gender equality in corporate culture. Over the past 20 years since we established our presence in Asia<\/span>, Morningstar has continuously aimed to empower investor success by providing an independent perspective and sharing insights on issues important to investors, such as gender equality.” \u00a0<\/p>\n

\n Diana Van Maasdijk, chief executive officer of Equileap<\/b>, said: “Given the state of the world today, it is more important than ever for companies to advance social justice issues, including gender equality. The fact that the largest pension fund in the world is investing with a gender-lens is a clear message for companies to step up their game. It is also an inspiration for all investors who care about increasing share price, as well as a more inclusive and robust economy.\u00a0“<\/p>\n

\n A Gender Equality Report by Morningstar and Equileap<\/b>\n <\/p>\n

To build on the interest in the area of gender equality, Morningstar and Equileap today published a white paper highlighting gender disparity in the corporate sphere, “Investing Inclusively: Building Shareholder Value Through Gender Diversity<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

The report highlights that companies that foster gender diversity and create inclusive cultures are tapping into the potential of the full population and are positioned to benefit from the effects of cognitive diversity. They are not only advancing the cause of human rights but also have the potential to maximize shareholder value. However, many barriers still exist on the road to gender equality. Insights from the report include:<\/p>\n