MSCI to Cut ESG Ratings of Over 30,000 Funds in Mass Review (3)

Some 31,000 funds are about to have their ESG scores lowered at MSCI Inc., as the firm’s ratings unit works through a major overhaul of its methodology in response to feedback from market participants.

Clients had voiced concerns about “an upward drift in ratings across the fund universe,” which is now being addressed, according to MSCI ESG Research. The changes mean that only 0.2% of funds will have a AAA rating in the future, compared with roughly 20% now, according to MSCI estimates.

The measures include giving managers of swap-based exchange-traded funds six months to provide data on ...