iSTOXX^® L&G Emerging Markets Quality

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 UN Global Compact Principles, that are involved in controversial weapons, are tobacco producers, or that either derive revenues from thermal coal extraction or exploration, or 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 Transition Benchmark Indices are based on liquid securities from a selection of STOXX Benchmark Indices. The indices are constructed to follow the EU Climate Transition Benchmark (EU CTB) 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 Climate Transition 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 are also excluded. 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 Climate Transition Benchmark Indices aim to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by at least 30% 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 Climate Transition 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 US ESG Climbers Industry Adjusteds index selects securities from the STOXX US universe that consistently improve their ESG performance, with standardized ESG exclusion screens applied for ISS ESG Norms Based Screening assessment, a set of definitions for Controversial Weapons, Tobacco, Thermal Coal, Unconventional Oil & Gas, Civilian Firearms and Military Equipment. The objective is to select such companies that are on trajectory to become ESG leaders in the future, based on whether their ISS ESG Corporate Ratings Overall Numeric Scores have improved over the past 5 years. The methodology also removes securities whose issuers are poor ESG performers, where their ISS ESG Corporate Ratings Overall Numeric Score is lower than 1.75. Securities whose issuers do not receive ESG Rating as of the effective review are also excluded. Securities are selected through an iterative process within each of the 11 ICB industry based on their improvement and deterioration count, which are then adjusted for industry exposure and subject to concentrated capping.

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

The ISS STOXX Europe 600 Biodiversity Focus SRI Index tracks the performance of STOXX Europe 600 companies 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, Adult Entertainment, Alcohol, Gambling, Thermal Coal, Unconventional Oil & Gas, Fossil Fuels, Nuclear Power, Civilian Firearms, and Military Contracting. Companies are also screened for their ESG Rating. 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.

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