Socially responsible investments (SRI) continue to attract assets despite the volatility of global markets, according to a recent report issued by
SRI vehicles take social, environmental and other factors into consideration when picking stocks. Cerulli said the U.S. market for the products have grown to $1.9 trillion from $1.4 trillion 14 months ago.
The firm attributed the gains to "stickier" assets among SRI vehicles, meaning that investors who buy into them typically keep their money there longer. SRI investors are "reacting stoically to adverse market conditions by staying with funds in greater percentages than conventional investors," Cerulli said in a statement.
In addition, the firm said that recent corporate scandals, such as those involving Enron and WorldCom, have drawn attention to corporate governance issues, which is a pet issue of many SRI funds. Ensuing proposals for regulatory reform may also have drawn attention to SRI, Cerulli said.
