The euro-denominated, open-ended green bond fund for central banks builds on the success of the first, US dollar-denominated green bond fund. The two funds belong to the BIS's green bond fund initiative and invest in high-quality bonds that comply with international green standards and finance environmentally friendly projects.

Dedicated social bond funds, such as the social bond strategy announced recently by Amundi, may face heightened single-name concentration risks as a result unless they have latitude to invest in a wider array of instruments than just social bonds.

The European Union (“EU”), rated AAA/AAA/Aaa/AA/AAA by DBRS, Fitch, Moody's, S&P and SCOPE (positive outlook for S&P, stable for the other rating agencies), today issued a €8.5 billion single tranche social bond due in July 2035. This was the third EU transaction under the Support to mitigate Unemployment Risk in an Emergency (SURE) programme.

LafargeHolcim today priced a EUR 850 million sustainability-linked bond with a coupon of 0.5% maturing in 2031. With this first bond of its kind in the building materials industry, the company is confirming its sustainability leadership in the sector.

Green corporate bonds are growing in popularity, but it can be tricky to figure out just how green these investments really are. How do you know when ‘green' is really green and not just a catchy name of the bond?