Markets have roared higher as vaccination rates rise around the Developed world. The percentage of COVID-related ESG content has declined sharply, first from the range of ~25% of total volume to the low 20s, and now in the past four weeks the level has remained below a fifth of all volume.
In the past four weeks, all COVID-19 signals have declined in prevalence in the dataset. The COVID-19 Social Signal is the only one reliably in double digit percentages of all data in the past month.
The SASB category of Access & Affordability remains the leading ESG area for COVID-related content, with ~25% of the total in the past month. Labor Practices has declined to single digits as employers have access to more information than before about controlling COVID risks.
The ratio of COVID-related content to non-COVID content continues declining from 350% for the leading industries in March. Cruise Lines ranks in the top three of industries with the highest proportion of COVID-related content, as the CDC announced new guidelines for resuming cruises and the industry contemplates a recovery.
Vaccine makers’ COVID-19 volume for the Response Signal remains extremely high.
Continuing with a focus on racial equality, we again highlight key recent Spotlight Events. This week, racial justice-related data shows banks stepping up on diversity and racial justice, with HSBC vowing to double its senior Black staff, and TCF Bank promising $1 billion in loans to minority and women-owned small businesses.
