Thematic Investing

Stocks had their worst month since September 2023 in March, as investors fretted about the outlook for US economic growth, inflation and international trade. US stocks paced the retreat.

An ISS ESG net-zero scenario alignment assessment shows the STOXX Global Artificial Intelligence index largely overshoots the IEA’s carbon emissions budget by 2050. Yet, that is not far from the case for the broader equities market, and technology advancements may help change the situation in coming years.

Ladi Williams, Head of Thematics and Strategy Index Product Management at STOXX, talks to ETF Stream about the STOXX index suite targeting the artificial intelligence theme.

European stocks extended January’s strong performance last month, as investors continue to favor a region that’s underperformed in recent years. US indices failed to keep their momentum.

With five thematic indices targeting the Artificial Intelligence theme, STOXX offers issuers and investors flexible opportunities to harness the entire value chain around the technology. A new whitepaper explores the construction of the indices through a life-cycle thematic framework.

The STOXX Artificial Intelligence suite currently consists of five indices and is used to capture the different aspects and development stages of the targeted theme. This paper uses the AI theme to discuss thematic investing, and explore the identification of key subthemes and construction of thematic indices.

Stocks jumped in January as investors’ optimism that earnings will continue to grow overshadowed concerns about global politics and trade issues.

Stocks dropped in December, paring global indices’ double-digit returns in 2024.

The STOXX Global AI Infrastructure and STOXX Global AI Adopters and Applications thematic indices allow investors targeted exposure to companies in different stages and involvement in AI, as the technology is deployed. The indices employ a combination of revenues and patents screens to select both established businesses as well as innovators.

STOXX Ltd., part of the ISS STOXX group of companies and a leading provider of benchmark and custom index solutions to global institutional investors, today announced its expanding collaboration with BlackRock, with BlackRock’s launch of two iShares ETFs tracking the STOXX Global AI Infrastructure and STOXX Global AI Adopters and Applications thematic indices.

The STOXX Global 1800 index posted its best month so far this year in November as investors reacted positively to Donald Trump’s decisive victory for a second term as US president.

Stocks fell for the first month in six in October as earnings disappointments from technology companies and rising bond yields drove investors to take profits from this year’s rally.