Ethical funds: Barclays

January 2008, Barclays decide to invest in ethical funds. The bank puts 5 million pounds in a fund specialised in social and ethical investments. An important difference with earlier transactions -related to the ethical environment- is the fact that they choose private enterprises rather than publicly known businesses. One of these earlier firms is “Bridges CDV Fund II”. But why do they opt for ethical funds? First of all, as these firms already make profits, Barclays risk is limited. A second advantage of ethical investment is that these funds grow much faster than the economy itself does. Finally, ethical investments still are a great potential for investors.(Independent)

Gertie Bleyaert