This month includes news from Boursa Kuwait, Bursa Malaysia, B3, Colombo Stock Exchange and more. Monthly news highlights are compiled by the SSE to give an overview of the capital markets' sustainability news from that month. You can subscribe to our monthly news highlights by clicking here.
SSE INITIATIVE NEWS & EVENTS
Exchange in Focus: RepRisk interviews Cesar Sanches, Head of Sustainability at B3
18 April 2023
In April 2023, Cesar Sanches, Head of Sustainability at B3 was interviewed by RepRisk. The talking points were Cesar Sanches’ work at B3, the role of RepRisk in the new methodology of the B3 Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE B3), and B3’s position in the Latin American Market in the sustainable field.
EXCHANGE NEWS
Bursa Carbon Exchange Joins Global Emissions Trading Network Via IETA
6 April 2023
Bursa Malaysia Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia” or the “Exchange”) today announced its membership of the International Emissions Trading Association (“IETA”), a thought leader in carbon market mechanisms. This move is in line with the Exchange's commitment to develop Malaysia’s carbon market through its voluntary carbon market (“VCM”) - the Bursa Carbon Exchange (“BCX”) - and to strengthen institutional capacity in developing a vibrant VCM ecosystem.
LuxSE Named Exchange Of The Year 2023 By Environmental Finance
6 April 2023
As part of Environmental Finance’s Bond Awards 2023, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) took home the title of ‘Exchange of the Year’ for the sixth time since 2017.
12 April 2023
Bursa Malaysia (“Exchange”) signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (“MOC”) with PETRONAS to help drive environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) adoption and practices through Bursa Malaysia’s Centralised Sustainability Intelligence Platform (“Platform”).
14 April 2023
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), today (Friday) published a consultation paper seeking market feedback on proposals to enhance climate-related disclosures under the environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework.
17 April 2023
TASE published today its first ESG questionnaire for the TASE-listed companies as a means to increasing their ESG involvement and allowing investors better access to ESG-related information, in line with international standards.
Boursa Kuwait sheds light on its ESG commitments and achievements in second Sustainability Report
18 April 2023
Boursa Kuwait published its second standalone Sustainability Report, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and their adoption in its operations and the wider Kuwaiti capital market.
New Zealand Exchange Announces Changes to Climate/ESG-Related Governance Requirements
18 April 2023
Effective April 1, 2023, the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) has updated the NZX Corporate Governance Code (Code) and the NZX ESG Guidance Note (ESG Note). There are eight principles that underlie the Code: (1) ethical standards; (2) board composition and performance; (3) board committees; (4) reporting and disclosure; (5) remuneration; (6) risk management; (7) auditors; and (8) shareholder rights and relations.
LSEG features in Europe’s Climate Leader List 2023
20 April 2023
For the continent’s carbon emitters, the heat is on — but some are doing better than others in reducing their footprint
CSE enables issue of Green Bonds by Sri Lankan Companies
25 April 2023
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is pleased to announce the introduction of listing and trading of Green Bonds for the first time in the Sri Lankan stock market, with effect from 25th April 2023.
NGX, ETI mull partnership on sustainability, market development
25 April 2023
Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) have expressed mutual interest in partnering on sustainability initiatives and overall market development.
NGX Group Becomes First Exchange Group Globally To Achieve EDGE Certification
26 April 2023
Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the EDGE certification, making it the first exchange group globally and the first indigenous Nigerian organization to be EDGE certified.
Study Panel on the Use of Digital Bonds in ESG Investing concludes discussions, publishes report
27 April 2023
JPX Market Innovation & Research, Inc. (“JPXI”) partnered with Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. (“Nomura”) to form the Study Panel on the Use of Digital Bonds in ESG Investing on September 28, 2022 (organizer: JPXI; administration: Nomura), bringing together issuers and investors with green bond experience, as well as securities firms, banks and trust banks, ESG rating agencies, system vendors, and public-sector organizations.
REGULATORS AND STANDARDS SETTER NEWS
4 April 2023
Macroprudential policies aim to maintain financial stability by increasing the resilience of the financial system (together with the macroprudential framework) and containing the accumulation of systemic risks.
5 April 2023
The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published the 2023-2024 Work Program to further its core objectives of protecting investors, maintaining fair, efficient and transparent markets, and addressing systemic risks.
ISSB to focus on climate disclosures in first reporting year
6 April 2023
Reporting group adds new relief measures for companies. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has decided to prioritize climate-related information in its first reporting year, part of a series of measures designed to ease the burden on companies from the new disclosures.
Malaysia: Energy Firms to be Engaged Over Readiness Under ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Financing
6 April 2023
Following the release of Version 2 of the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainability Financing (Version 2) last week, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) will facilitate regional efforts being made by the ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB) to conduct targeted stakeholder consultations.
IIGCC publishes Net Zero Standard for Oil & Gas
18 April 2023
IIGCC has published a Net Zero Standard for Oil & Gas, a new framework for investors to assess alignment of oil and gas companies’ transition plans with a 1.5oC climate scenario.
Financial Stability Board: Climate-related Financial Risk Factors in Compensation Frameworks
20 April 2023
Climate-related metrics are often part of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors that are increasingly used by financial institutions as part of performance measurement to determine variable compensation.
Singapore: MAS Launches Finance for Net Zero Action Plan
20 April 2023
Mr Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Deputy Chairman, today announced the launch of MAS’ Finance for Net Zero (FiNZ) Action Plan at the opening of the Sustainable and Green Finance Institute of the National University of Singapore.
United Kingdom: Risks and opportunities from green mortgages highlighted by FCA boss
20 April 2023
Green mortgages can play an increasingly significant role in helping borrowers reduce emissions from their homes, according to the FCA’s David Geale.
21 April 2023
Capital markets are giving more attention than ever to sustainability information vis-a-vis value creation of the entity. Responding to such needs, tremendous efforts have been made towards developing sustainability disclosure standards by various standard setters and jurisdictions around the world.
21 April 2023
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the People’s Bank of China (PBC) today announced the establishment of the China-Singapore Green Finance Taskforce (GFTF).
25 April 2023
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) welcomes the decision by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) to bring forward the start of the consultation on its proposed new standard for sustainability assurance, as part of its plan to deliver an assurance framework for end-2024 sustainability disclosures by market issuers.
ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS
27 April 2023
Through this issuance, MSME S.A. has entered into a loan facility agreement with the leading Mongolian bank Khan Bank, which will partially use the proceeds to create jobs in female-owned or -managed SMEs.
GENDER EQUALITY
4 April 2023
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) today released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Annual Report to Congress.
NGX, WARIF Partner On Gender-Based Violence, Educate Community Women
11 April 2023
Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and Women at Risk Foundation (WARIF) partnered on the an outreach to women in Lagos to educate them on gender-based violence (GBV) with respect to domestic situations.
NGX welcomes a delegation from 100 Women in Finance on April 27
27 April 2023
On Thursday, April 27, 2023, Nigerian Exchange Limited will welcome a delegation from 100 Women in Finance, led by the CEO, Amanda Pullinger, for a closing gong ceremony, as they mark the launch of 100 Women in Finance in Nigeria.
Japan's Kishida says women should fill 30% of top company posts
28 April 2023
Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's top-tier Prime market should fill at least 30% of executive positions with women, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, urging Japan Inc. to take more aggressive action toward gender equality.
