Russian stock exchange plans first sustainability index

The Russian stock exchange RTS has announced it is developing its first sustainability index with the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management, the graduate business school.
The news follows a meeting this week between the exchange, Skolkovo and the Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, a statement from RTS said.
The index will include shares of listed firms “selected on the basis of regularly published corporate and social responsibility reports (CSR)”.
RTS acknowledges the project faces “two large-scaletasks”. The first is developing selection criteria – for which it will use best practice and expert assistance.
“The second task is the development and promotion of sustainable growth idea as an important and integral part of companies’ daily activities.” The results of the project will be presented in a month’s time.
The RTS was established in 1995 and its benchmark RTS Index was first calculated on September 1 that year. In addition it also publishes a range of regional and sectoral indices.
RTS has also recently announced a partnership agreement with the NASDAQ OMX Group. Skolkovo link