iSTOXX^® L&G North America Low Volatility

The STOXX Benchmark ESG-X Indices are based on a selection of STOXX Benchmark Indices and apply standardized ESG exclusion screens. The screens are based on the responsible policies of leading asset owners and aim to reduce reputational and idiosyncratic risks.

STOXX excludes companies that ISS ESG considers to be non-compliant with its Norms-based research, that are involved in controversial weapons or severe controversies, are tobacco producers, or that either derive revenues from thermal coal ext have power generation capacity that utilizes thermal coal.

STOXX Benchmark ESG-X Indices are suitable as underlying indices for mandates, passive funds, ETFs, structured products and listed derivatives, with the ambition to increase liquidity and lower the cost of trading.

This index applies screens in alignment with the ESMA guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms, which include controversial weapons, Tobacco, Coal (>1%), Oil fuels (>10%), Gaseous fuels (>50%/ Power generation), UNGC principles / OECD guidelines.Per the ESMA guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms, this index meets an 80% threshold linked to the proportion of investments used to meet environmental or social characteristic or sustainable investment objectives in accordance with the binding elements of the investment strategy.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The STOXX Climate Awareness Ex UN Global Compact Principles and Controversial Weapons indices will include companies with a CDP Performance Band A to C- (pre-2016 Performance Band A to C). Band A and A- includes companies that are seen as leading companies in terms of climate change: these companies are disclosing particular “actions” which mark them as leaders, as well as high scores across all other levels of the CDP Scoring matrix. Scoring requires detailed company-specific explanations.  Band B & B- includes companies that “manage” climate change: companies seek evidence of climate actions implemented and requires company-specific understanding of cli-mate change related issues.  Band C and C- identifies companies who have looked at implications of climate change for, and on, their business and recognizes a high level, contextual knowledge of environmental issues. The index also exlcudes companies violating international norms, are involved with controversial weapons, tobacco, thermal coal, civilian firearms, military equipment, and unconventional oil and gas.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The STOXX Paris-Aligned Benchmark Indices are based on liquid securities from a selection of STOXX Benchmark Indices. The indices are constructed to follow the EU Paris-aligned Benchmark (EU PAB) requirements outlined in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards minimum standards for EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks.

Companies identified as non-compliant based on norms-based Screening assessment, or are involved in Controversial Weapons, as identified by ISS ESG are not eligible for selection. Tobacco Producers, as identified by ISS ESG, are also not eligible. Securities that generate revenues above a certain threshold from coal, oil and gas exploration or processing activities are excluded. Additionally, securities that derive higher than 10% of their revenues from thermal coal-based power generation, or higher than 50% from power generation with carbon intensity of lifecycle emissions higher than 100gCO2e/kWh are not considered for selection. Furthermore, STOXX will exclude companies that ISS ESG assesses to have significant obstruction in the following UN SDGs: SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 15 Life On Land.

The weighing process follows an optimization process to keep the tracking error less than on equal to 1.5% compared to the parent indes while meeting the minimum requirements detailed in the regulation. The STOXX Paris-Aligned Benchmark Indices aim to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by at least 50% when compared to their underlying benchmarks. They are also designed to meet the year on year 7% decarbonization target.

High climate impact sector weights of the STOXX Paris-Aligned Benchmark Indices are not underweighted relative to the underlying benchmark. The indices also overweigh securities with Science Based Targets, as verified by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The ISS STOXX Europe 600 Biodiversity Index reflects the performance of the STOXX Europe 600 after a set of compliance, ESG involvement screens, biodiversity screens, and overall impact on biodiversity and environmental UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objectives are applied. Companies that are non-compliant based on the ISS ESG Norms Based Screening assessment or are involved in Controversial Weapons are not eligible for selection. Additional exclusion filters are applied, screening companies for involvement in Palm Oil, GMO Agriculture, Hazardous Pesticides, Animal Welfare, Fur Involvement, Tobacco, Thermal Coal, Unconventional Oil & Gas, Civilian Firearms, and Military Contracting. Furthermore, only companies in the top 80% rank of Potentially Disappeared Fraction of species over Enterprise Value including Cash (PDF/EVIC) scores based on ISS ESG Biodiversity Impact Assessment Tool (BIAT) as well as the top 80% rank of biodiversity related ISS ESG SDG Impact Rating aggregated score within each ICB Sector of the universe are selected. If the GHG intensity reduction is not at least 30% versus the parent index, companies will be excluded by descending order of carbon intensity until the 30% reduction is reached

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

STOXX single and multi-factor indices aim to harvest the risk premia of several academically validated style factors – Value, Momentum, Quality, Size and Low Risk. At the same time the rules ensure tradability and diversification as well as limit untargeted systematic exposures.

STOXX uses Axioma's risk model and optimizer to construct the factor indices. The STOXX ESG-X single and multi-factor indices are based on the respective STOXX ESG-X country or regional benchmark indices.

This index applies screens in alignment with the ESMA guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms, which include controversial weapons, Tobacco, Coal (>1%), Oil fuels (>10%), Gaseous fuels (>50%/ Power generation), UNGC principles / OECD guidelines.Per the ESMA guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms, this index meets an 80% threshold linked to the proportion of investments used to meet environmental or social characteristic or sustainable investment objectives in accordance with the binding elements of the investment strategy.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.