Do greener funds perform better? An analysis of open-end equity funds in China

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study analyses how equity funds react to institutional pressure related to green finance. Based on the analysis of 378 open-end equity funds in China from 2010 to 2019, we examined the environmental performance of fund holdings to measure their level of green investment. In our analyses, we distinguished between funds with positive and negative screening strategies. Our results indicate that the funds’ green investments are gradually increasing. Furthermore, we found that green investment strategies help to increase the funds’ excess return. The positive connection to financial returns, however, is only valid for funds with negative screening strategies. Finally, we found that fund investors react negatively to funds using positive screening to identify green investments. The study contributes to theoretical and practical knowledge about factors influencing equity funds’ green and financial performance.