New ETFs give you more sustainable choices

Article Excerpt

There were six ETFs focused on Sustainable Investing among the group of funds made available to investors under RBC’s new partnership with Blackrock. Four of these funds are focused on stocks, while another two concentrate on fixed-income instruments. Here’s a look at the stock-market funds; they represent a better bet for your new buying. All four of these new equity ETFs began trading March 21, 2019. They are passively managed and hold the companies established by the index provider, MSCI. That provider, in turn, selects the companies that best meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria from the broad universe of stocks available in each market. The indexes exclude companies that are involved in the business of tobacco, controversial weapons or civilian firearms. Firms involved in severe controversies are also excluded. ISHARES ESG MSCI CANADA ETF (Toronto symbol XESG) is buy. The fund exposes you to a broad universe of Canadian companies that meet its selection criteria. (For more on this ETF see page 113.) The ETF charges…