Investing in microfinance for a human return on investment
December 29th, 2008(Nederlandse versie is hieronder te vinden)
Investment funds are being differentiated more and more based on their nature and substance. A fund may, for instance follow a country-specific index, such as the AEX index in the Netherlands, or an index in a specific region, such as the Far East, or a certain philosophy, such as growth or share value. But funds can also be differentiated based on sustainable themes such as water or new forms of energy.
Investment themes
A great many excellent combinations can be made based on investment themes, examples of which are as follows:
- Income
For a consistent flow of income
- Topical
Following the markets
- Dynamism
Playing the markets by taking certain positions
- Comfort
For the more relaxed investor who wishes to follow the markets from a distance
- Sustainable
For the investor who wishes to combine financial and sustainable return on
investment
Sustainable investment
Sustainable investment involves looking at funds which make investments based on human, environmental and social aspects.
Investments in controversial weapons and child labour, for instance, are excluded. The sustainable aspects of the funds serve as the starting point, and because returns must also be made on the investment, the financial aspects are also taken into consideration. Funds with other specific, sustainable themes such as renewable energy, clean water or environmental technology form a welcome addition to these investments.
Oikocredit Netherlands Fund
Because increasingly more focus is being placed on human return on investment besides financial return, microfinance investments have also been included in the theme of sustainability. Every investment proposal made by ING will include Oikocredit Netherlands Fund (ONF). In view of the stability of ONF’s share performance even in the current tough stock market environment, ONF has made a positive contribution to the results of the sustainable portfolio.
Contact
Would you like to know more about ING’s investment themes? Contact your investment advisor. For more information about ONF, please visit www.oikocreditnederlandsfonds.nl