Can the private sector benefit from 'impact investing'? | GreenBiz.com

Impact investing has come a long way since John Elkington coined the phrase ?Triple Bottom Line? in his 1997 book Cannibals with Forks: the Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business. In a relatively short amount of time, this term has captured the ethos of this emerging asset class. According to an often cited 2010 JP Morgan report, this segment of the market offers the potential over the next 10 years for invested capital of $400 billion-$1 trillion, and profit of $183 billion-$667 billion.

For the uninitiated, impact investing refers to investments made based on criteria that go beyond just financial return and attempt to create benefits for both society and the environment. Also known by some as ?socially responsible investing,? ?corporate social responsibility? or ?environment, social and corporate governance,? impact investing looks more specifically at how investments can promote positive impacts and less at the minimization of negative impacts.

San Francisco recently played host to the annual flagship impact investing event, SOCAP12. Conference organizers report that attendance has tripled since the first conference was held back in back in 2008. This growing interest in SOCAP may be a reflection of a maturing market and signal of the potential for growth in this largely untapped sector.

The growth in the interest in impact investing market may also be due to the meltdown of traditional capital markets over the past five years, as it can be a safer long-term place for investors to put their money, as well as their hopes for the future. According to a recent study by Oekom Research, its portfolio of 300 major companies that had satisfied its industry-specific sustainability requirements outperformed the MSCI World Total Return Index by 15 percent from 2005-2011.

Conservation International (CI) ? along with our partners, including the French Development Agency, Starbucks Coffee and the International Finance Corporation ? have been involved in impact investing since 1998 through the Verde Ventures Fund. While it may come as a surprise to the traditional financial community that a conservation organization has a long history of involvement in impact investing, for CI it was a logical step in searching for innovative ways to provide conservation finance at scale.

The Verde Ventures business philosophy is based on our steadfast belief that economic opportunity and responsible stewardship of the Earth are at the core of successful conservation efforts benefiting both people and nature. It also recognizes that by leveraging investments through debt finance and capacity building of ?disruptive innovators? -- businesses that unexpectedly improve products or services with implications on scaling and rapid growth. This strategy paves the way for a greater impact compared to just grants alone.

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Source: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/01/03/can-private-sector-benefit-impact-investing

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World stocks jump as US staves off 'fiscal cliff'

Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Hans Sicat, second from right, gestures as PSE treasurer Ma. Vivian Yuchengco rings the bell to signal the start of the first day of trading at Philippine Stock Exchange at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday Jan. 2, 2013. Stock markets in Asia registered relief Wednesday over the U.S. congressional vote to stop hundreds of billions of dollars in automatic tax increases and spending cuts that risked plunging the world's biggest economy into recession. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Hans Sicat, second from right, gestures as PSE treasurer Ma. Vivian Yuchengco rings the bell to signal the start of the first day of trading at Philippine Stock Exchange at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday Jan. 2, 2013. Stock markets in Asia registered relief Wednesday over the U.S. congressional vote to stop hundreds of billions of dollars in automatic tax increases and spending cuts that risked plunging the world's biggest economy into recession. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

South Korean dancers in traditional costumes beat their drums during opening ceremony of the Year 2013 trading outside the Seoul Stock Exchange Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2013. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) started up 16.69 points, or 0.84 percent, at 2, 013.74. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Staff members of the Korea Stock Exchange Market salute to the national flag during the opening ceremony to commence the Year 2013 trading at the Seoul Stock Exchange Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2013. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) started up 16.69 points, or 0.84 percent, at 2, 013.74.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A Filipino trader blows a horn during the first day of trading at Philippine Stock Exchange at the financial district of Makati, south of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday Jan. 2, 2013. Stock markets in Asia registered relief Wednesday over the U.S. congressional vote to stop hundreds of billions of dollars in automatic tax increases and spending cuts that risked plunging the world's biggest economy into recession. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

BANGKOK (AP) ? World markets registered relief Wednesday over the U.S. congressional vote to stop hundreds of billions of dollars in automatic tax increases and spending cuts that risked plunging the world's biggest economy into recession.

Benchmarks in Australia and Hong Kong boomeranged on the first trading day of the year, just before Congress passed an emergency measure to avert much of the impact of tax-and-spending changes that were so steep they were dubbed the "fiscal cliff." Asian markets had slipped on Monday, fearing that negotiations over the measure might collapse.

Economists have been warning that the tax increases and spending cuts could take a chunk out of the U.S. economy; some experts predicted financial markets would plunge unless a clear-cut deal was reached.

Instead, markets in Asia and Europe blessed the stopgap measure approved late Tuesday in Washington to retroactively counter some of the "fiscal cliff" effects. The bill Congress passed awaits President Barack Obama's signature.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shot up 2.9 percent to close at 23,311.89, its highest finish since June 1, 2011. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 surged 1.2 percent to close at 4,705.90, its strongest finish in 19 months. South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.7 percent to 2,031.10.

European stocks jumped shortly after opening. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.6 percent to 5,989.24. Germany's DAX advanced 1.7 percent to 7,740.12 and France's CAC-40 also gained 1.7 percent at 3,701.90.

"People are very relieved this morning because the U.S. is very likely to fix its own problems in the next few days, so investors in Hong Kong are pretty optimistic," said Jackson Wong, vice president of Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong.

But some analysts said that expectations for a compromise were so low that any deal was viewed as positive.

"Among business leaders, I'm gonna say this deal isn't enough to move the needle on confidence. It may improve consumer confidence a little, investors obviously are celebrating a tentative deal but you know how transitory investor confidence can become," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Group.

Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan, India, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia posted solid gains. Markets in Japan and mainland China reopen Friday.

Uncertainty about the outcome of negotiations drove down Asian regional stocks Monday, the last trading day of 2012.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5 percent to close at 4,648.90, as investors sold off stocks to lock in profits. Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed marginally lower. Singapore, New Zealand and India also declined. Japan and South Korea were closed.

The bill that Congress approved calls for higher taxes on incomes over $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples, a victory for Obama. Earnings above those amounts would be taxed at a rate of 39.6 percent, up from the current 35 percent. It also delays for two months $109 billion worth of across-the-board spending cuts that had been set to start affecting the Pentagon and domestic agencies this week.

Lorraine Tan, director at Standard & Poor's equity research in Singapore, said she believes U.S. growth in 2013 will be able to offset the impact of the tax increases and that companies would feel freer to spend now that the U.S. has taken a step back from the edge of the cliff.

Companies "can start to move ahead with any expansion plans they may have," Tan said. "You'll see some of that pent-up spending in 2013. And I think there's a lot of relief related to that."

Even if Washington bypasses the fiscal cliff, the next crisis is just around the corner, in late February or early March, when the government reaches a $16.4 trillion ceiling on the amount of money it can borrow.

Republicans say they won't go along with raising the limit on government borrowing unless the increase is matched by spending cuts to help attack long-term debt. Failing to raise the debt ceiling could lead to a first-ever U.S. default that could roil financial markets and shake worldwide confidence in the United States.

"Republicans vow not to raise the limit without sharp cuts in spending and Obama vows not to cut spending without further tax hikes. Two more months of shenanigans and waffling / seasick markets? It certainly looks that way," analysts at DBS Bank Ltd. in Singapore said in a market commentary.

U.S. stocks shot higher Monday on the belief that lawmakers would work out a deal. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.3 percent to 13,104.14. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 1.7 percent to 1,426.19. The Nasdaq composite index rose 2 percent to 3,019.51.

Political gridlock has been rattling U.S. markets and shaking consumer and business confidence the past two years.

To end a 2011 standoff over raising the federal debt limit, lawmakers agreed to a Jan. 1, 2013 deadline to reach a deal over taxes and spending. If there was no agreement, more than $500 billion in tax increases would hit the economy in 2013 alone, along with $109 billion in cuts from the military and domestic spending programs ? hence the fiscal cliff.

After a fight over raising the debt limit last year, the credit rating agency Standard & Poor's took the unprecedented step of lowering the U.S. government's AAA bond rating because of the lack of a credible plan to reduce the federal government's debt.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-02-World%20Markets/id-b9d619da49b14850a29168e4329dae91

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Good and Bad, the Little Things Add Up in Fitness - NYTimes.com

Phys Ed

Gretchen Reynolds on the science of fitness.

The past year in fitness has been alternately inspiring, vexing and diverting, as my revisiting of all of the Phys Ed columns published in 2012 makes clear. Taken as a whole, the latest exercise-related science tells us that the right types and amounts of exercise will almost certainly lengthen your life, strengthen your brain, affect your waistline and even clear debris from inside your body?s cells. But too much exercise, other 2012 science intimates, might have undesirable effects on your heart, while popping painkillers, donning stilettos and sitting and reading this column likewise have their costs.

With New Year?s exercise resolutions still fresh and hopefully unbroken on this, day two of 2013, it now seems like the perfect time to review these and other lessons of the past year in fitness science.

First, since I am habitually both overscheduled and indolent, I was delighted to report, as I did in June, that the ?sweet sport? for health benefits seems to come from jogging or moderately working out for only a brief period a few times a week.

Specifically, an encouraging 2012 study of 52,656 American adults found that those who ran 1 to 20 miles per week at an average pace of about 10 or 11 minutes per mile ? my leisurely jogging speed, in fact ? lived longer, on average, than sedentary adults. They also lived longer than the group (admittedly small) who ran more than 20 miles per week.

?These data certainly support the idea that more running is not needed to produce extra health and mortality benefits,? Dr. Carl J. Lavie, a cardiologist in New Orleans and co-author of the study told me. ?If anything,? he said, ?it appears that less running is associated with the best protection from mortality risk.?

Similarly, in a study from Denmark that I wrote about in September, a group of pudgy young men lost more weight after 13 weeks of exercising moderately for about 30 minutes several times a week than a separate group who worked out twice as much.

The men who exercised the most, the study authors discovered, also subsequently ate more than the moderate exercisers.

Even more striking, however, the vigorous exercisers subsequently sat around more each day than did the men who had exercised less, motion censors worn by all of the volunteers showed.

?They were fatigued,? said Mads Rosenkilde, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Copenhagen and the study?s co-author.

Meanwhile, the men who had worked out for only about 30 minutes seemed to be energized by their new routines. They stood up, walked, stretched and even bounced in place more than they once had. ?It looks like they were taking the stairs now, not the elevators, and just moving around more,? Mr. Rosenkilde said. ?It was little things, but they add up.?

And that idea was, in fact, perhaps the most dominant exercise-science theme of 2012: that little things add up, with both positive and pernicious effects. Another of my favorite studies of 2012 found that a mere 10 minutes of physical activity increased life spans in adults by almost two years, even if the adults remained significantly overweight.

But the inverse of that finding proved to be equally true: not fitting periods of activity into a person?s daily life also affected life span. Perhaps the most chilling sentence that I wrote all year reported that, according to a large study of Western adults, ?Every single hour of television watched after the age of 25 reduces the viewer?s life expectancy by 21.8 minutes.?

I am watching much less television these days.

But not all of the new fitness science I covered this year was quite so sobering or, to be honest, consequential. Some of the more practical studies simply validated common sense, including reports that to succeed in ball sports, keep your eye on the ball; during hot-weather exercise, pour cold water over your head; and, finally, on the day before a marathon, eat a lot.

But when I think about the science that has most affected how I plan my life, I return again and again to those studies showing that physical activity alters how long and how well we live. My days of heedless youth are behind me. So I won?t soon forget the study I wrote about in September detailing how moderate, frequent physical activity in midlife can delay the onset of illness and frailty in old age. Exercise won?t prevent you from aging, of course. Only death does that. But this study and others from this year underscore that staying active, even in moderate doses, dramatically improves how your aging body feels and responds.

Aging also inspired my favorite reader comment of 2012, which was posted in response to a research scientist?s name. ??Dr. Head,?? the reader wrote. ?That shall be the name of my all-senior-citizen metal band,? which, if its members gyrate and vigorously bound about like Mick Jagger on his recent tour, should ensure themselves decades in which to robustly perform.

Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/the-little-things-add-up-in-fitness/

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PFT:?Browns, Bills?to interview Syracuse's Marrone

Getty Images

Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano said Monday that he thinks quarterback Josh Freeman will win Super Bowls over the course of his career, but he stopped short of saying that Freeman will continue to be the team?s starter next season.

Schiano was complimentary of Freeman?s season during his postmortem on the Bucs? 7-9 season, but he also said that he wants to evaluate Freeman before the start of next season to make sure that he?s the right quarterback for the team in the future. Part of that evaluation will be to bring in competition for Freeman in the offseason.

?What I can say is, a 4,000-yard passer, a touchdown record ? there?s a lot of things you say, ?Wow.? Are there things that frustrate you? Yeah. There?s things that frustrate him, too. And I?m not ducking the question, because quite frankly, I really like Josh Freeman. But I want to make sure I don?t get ahead of my skis at all here and really evaluate every single thing to what?s best for this organization,? Schiano said, via the Tampa Bay Times. ?Do I think Josh Freeman is going to win Super Bowls in this league? I do. So, I hope that happens here. But again, at the end of the day, I have to evaluate everything before I can say that?s what we?re doing.?The one thing I do believe in is competition at every spot, including the quarterback so I want to have as many good players on our football team as we can at every single position. It?s a little different in the NFL.?

Freeman was all over the place during the 2012 season. He struggled a little early then went on a five-game spurt where he threw 13 touchdowns and one interception before posting consecutive four interception outings in Weeks 15 and 16. The end result was better than 2011, to be sure, but Freeman remains an athletically gifted but erratic quarterback after four seasons.

Next year will be a big one for the quarterback as it is the final year of the deal he signed as a rookie. If Freeman can?t raise his game, he might not get another deal from the Buccaneers and, if Schiano follows through on his plan, he might not even be their starter next season.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/01/report-cleveland-buffalo-to-interview-syracuse-coach-doug-marrone/related

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Fintans Yoda eying an upset in Sheffield Stadium Maiden 500m ...

Fintans Yoda eying an upset in Sheffield Stadium Maiden 500m ? Dup

Fintans Yoda will be looking to carry his winning momentum in the Sheffield Stadium Maiden 500m ? Dup in England on Monday, December 31, 2012. He does not have a lot of experience, so there will be immense pressure on him to deliver a top quality result in the Grade OR encounter.

He has appeared in this class on several occasions, but victories have not come his way. Therefore, he will have to come out with his best run in order to make his team proud in the race, which is scheduled to start at 11:11 GMT.

Things will not be easy for him, as there are a few other fierce challengers lined up against him. They will all be looking forward to a strong run in this class, as it will earn them a lot of fame.

Moreover, the winner will also bag a cash prize of ?200, so everyone will be pushing extremely hard from the start until the end. They will have to compete over 500 metres, which means that their stamina will be out to a stern test.

Looking at the overall distance to cover, it appears that none of the runners will be looking to waste energy in the opening phases of the race. Therefore, the starting positions will not make a big impact at the end of the day.

According to the bookies, the best chances of victory are with Ballymackey Ace, so he has been rated as the outright favourite to succeed. He will enter the contest with a starting price of 15 to 8, which suggests that he is expected to walk away with an easy victory.

However, the punters might not be interested in gambling a lot on him because he has failed on numerous occasions to deliver a winning result. He does not handle pressure well and that is not a good sign for his team.

The J. Davy?s trained dog was rated as the favourite to win his most recent race in this class, but finished as a runner up in the end.

Fintans Yoda will be hoping that a similar situation arises today and he walks away with the winning prize money in the end.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer?s and do not reflect bettor.com?s official editorial policy.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Fintans-Yoda-eying-an-upset-in-Sheffield-Stadium-Maiden-500m-Dup-a212155

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BPW Career Center: jobs, Canton jobs, Michigan jobs, Business ...

About Pinnacle. We invest in great people. That's why clients trust us with their real estate investments! At Pinnacle, we consider our employees our most valuable asset. In fact, our number one key business objective is to attract and retain the best talent in the industry! At Pinnacle, the key to our continued success and competitive advantage is our people. We offer a total compensation and benefits package to help with your needs today and build for your future tomorrow. We recognize that each employee is an individual with individual needs, lifestyles, and interests. Our benefits package was created with the flexibility to support employees who are at different places in their lives and careers. Pinnacle values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. We offer a safe, healthy work environment for employees through a commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Pinnacle has ongoing employment opportunities at our headquarters in Seattle, our more than 40 branch office locations nationally and our many managed communities throughout the country. Pinnacle is the national leader in third-party fee management of investment real estate encompassing multi-family, commercial space, affordable housing and military housing. Pinnacle is built on four basic principles: Quality people Strong customer service Solid market knowledge Superior systems and support capabilities At Pinnacle, success is about more than having a healthy bottom line. Guided by our principles and values, we are committed to making Pinnacle an amazing and unique place to work for each member of our team. About the job.. As a Business Manager at Pinnacle, youll put your outstanding leadership and savvy business skills to work at one of the most respected apartment companies in a management opportunity that offers real leadership, innovation and support. Our Business Managers are the cornerstone of our team. Theyre responsible for keeping our communities in the top-notch condition our residents have come to expect, building motivated and trustworthy teams who consistently deliver a notably higher level of service and maximizing the operating performance of our community. Be ready to be busy! This challenging position includes: Operations. Ensuring the smooth running of our community in a fast-paced environment. Overseeing all operations including maintenance, capital improvements, lease administration, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, collections, evictions, vacancy anticipation, marketing, lease renewals, service contracts, expense control, audits, etc. Customer service. Providing superior customer service and communication to our residents and prospects to enhance customer satisfaction and increase renewals, revenue, reputation and profitability. People development. Developing, mentoring, leading, and managing a high-performing, cohesive team, including leasing, customer service, maintenance and management personnel, in order to maximize their engagement and minimize turnover. Marketing. Driving revenues with your thorough understanding and analysis of competition and development of creative marketing programs. Leading by example. Instilling, maintaining and modeling the Pinnacle mission to be the best national management company. Essential Responsibilities: Supervise day-to-day operations of entire on-site team, ensuring that all Pinnacle policies and procedures are being followed. Maintain effective on-site staff through interviewing, hiring, and terminating as necessary. Maintain a positive living environment for community residents through prompt conflict resolution and consistent follow-up. Manage and maintain all aspects of overall community budget and finances Work with leasing staff to ensure that leasing/marketing goals are being met. Maintain positive relations with all community vendors. Coordinate special projects as requested by Investment (Regional) Manager. Personal Competencies: A competitive spirit High-energy Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking skills Supervisory experience Warm, friendly and service-oriented philosophy High degree of flexibility and tolerance for change Ability to train, develop, lead and mentor Superior written and verbal communications skills Extremely computer literate Organized and detail-oriented Customer-service driven Able to multitask Financials experience/experience working with a budget Qualifications: Minimum of a high school diploma, Bachelors degree preferred 3+ years of on-site property management experience Excellent oral and written communication skills Experience in supervisory role and managing staff Experience in writing and maintaining budgets Proficient in Yardi property management software or other similar property management software. General office, bookkeeping and sales skills Computer literate, including Microsoft Office Suite Pinnacle has grown to become America's largest apartment manager through many different successes. Yet, in today's ultra-competitive market, each success must fuel the next and speed is essential in the ongoing race to lead the industry. If you are ready to work hard and be empowered and encouraged to innovate, contribute ideas and discover solution to provide current and potential residents with unparalleled, world class customer service please click Apply Online.

Source: http://careers.bpwusa.org/jobs/5059600/business-manager

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Kim Kardashian Pregnancy Rocks Twitter: The Best Reactions

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/kim-kardashian-pregnancy-rocks-twitter-the-best-reactions/

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