News & Views

This week’s ESG in 5 looks at tighter scrutiny of recycling claims, Google’s 1GW virtual power plant deal, fresh funding for compact fusion, the EIB’s €30bn climate adaptation target and living-wage gaps across the fashion industry.

This week, equity markets moved lower overall, with technology stocks seeing the sharpest falls. UK inflation rose to 3.50%, while oil prices remained elevated and attention turned to a busy week ahead, with the UK Budget and interest-rate decisions from both the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank.

This week’s ESG in 5 covers a new fashion industry coalition tackling textile waste, European clean energy investment, California’s corporate climate reporting rules, declining female representation on US company boards and growing commitments to nature-related financial disclosures.

Markets ended the week mixed, with the Dow Jones and FTSE 100 gaining ground while technology shares declined. Meanwhile, closer UK-EU ties, rising US inflation expectations and growing concerns over climate-related financial risks featured among this week's developments.

Explore September 2026 market performance as AI boosts technology stocks, inflation drives interest rate rises, and developed and emerging markets diverge.

This week’s ESG in 5 covers South Korea’s $745bn green transition strategy, Scotland’s new paper-based bottle factory and HSBC’s ESG-linked business loans. Plus, a US shareholder voting investigation and a $2bn emerging-markets investment initiative.

Markets ended the week mixed, with the Dow Jones and FTSE 100 gaining ground while technology shares declined. Meanwhile, closer UK-EU ties, rising US inflation expectations and growing concerns over climate-related financial risks featured among this week's developments.

This week’s ESG in 5 covers funding for greener businesses and European power grids, Amazon’s community investment plans, a major US thermal battery project and Mars’ progress towards responsible cocoa sourcing.

Technology shares led gains while UK equities fell, as rising mortgage costs added to pressure on households. This week’s review also looks at higher Eurozone inflation, the ECB’s response to energy pressures and the FCA’s decision to step back from mandatory climate disclosures.

This week’s ESG in 5 covers a major electric truck order backed by Microsoft and PepsiCo, a new global sustainability standard and overwhelming demand for England’s green farming fund. We also look at the WTO’s review of EU carbon border measures and Hong Kong’s plans for a record digital green bond sale.

US technology shares led markets higher last week, while UK equities slipped as energy costs and inflation remained in focus. Record diesel prices added to pressure on households and businesses, while rising US inflation expectations highlighted concerns over the outlook for interest rates. This week, attention turns to US jobs data and Eurozone inflation for further insight into the balance between growth and price pressures.