Various investment houses are now offering mutual funds that specialise in clean energy or the energy transition. Investors should also think about the types of asset class they are picking, if they want to achieve change. Some believe bonds are a more effective tool at listed companies, as they are often issued to supply finance for more specific purposes.

EDL Capital offers investments denominated in gold and silver to protect clients against the risk that record coronavirus stimulus spending will push down currency values. Gold has drawn the attention of the world’s most-prominent investors, who are sounding the alarm about the threat that inflation, driven by central banks, could reduce currency values.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya sold a 1 billion euros perpetual note on Tuesday, and designated it as a green bond. CoCo bonds pay more interest than other debt. In exchange investors bear losses, if the bank fails. Transparency on how the funding has supported environmentally friendly causes will be critical, if the bank is to avoid the greenwashing tag.

For the first time in 40 years, we may now have to face up to the corrosive power of inflation. The numbers attached to coronavirus bailouts are clearly astronomical. Attempting to protect portfolios could mean buying not-so-liquid inflation-linked securities and floating-rate bonds; and pursuing value and momentum strategies in equities; and purchasing gold.

It’s a good idea to have your inflation-hedging positions ready for what is likely to come in the next few years. Annual budget deficits have become so enormous that the only way to finance them is for the Federal Reserve Bank to increase the money supply. The downside? We will all pay the price in the form of massive and sustained inflation.

When investors get scared, they rush for safe-haven assets like the 10-year Treasury Note. The problem is that an imminent surge in inflation will drive bond yields higher and so push the price of securities down. Rising expectations of inflation will lead bond investors to demand higher yields to tempt them into buying the fixed-income securities.

The German program is buckling under the weight of surging costs and needs an urgent fix. The green surcharge will cost consumers about €26.2 billion this year. At a cost of some €11 billion to the budget, the government will cut the green fee by 2 cents/kWh next year. In other words, power consumers’ burdens will be relieved by taxpayers.

The last few months have been sunny and windy and the wholesale prices have been low due to the pandemic. But the owners of solar- and wind power stations in Germany receive a fixed price and the difference comes from a surcharge paid by consumers. It will likely increase by 25% in 2021 and an average household will pay 350 euros per year.

EDF said it does not yet know how the project will be funded. Humphrey Cadoux Hudson said: “it is important to get the lowest cost of capital”. Backers of nuclear power insist Britain needs to replace existing nuclear plants, given that it is committed to net zero emissions by 2050, and the country cannot rely on wind and solar power all of the time.

Output from wind farms was up by 40% compared with the first quarter of 2019 as Britain experienced the wettest and windiest February on record. Making sure the grid isn’t overloaded by wind and solar is a challenge for National Grid Plc. The grid operator asked for emergency powers to switch off renewable generators if needed to limit supply.

The UK issued its first bond with a negative yield as investors prepared for the possibility that Britain joins other European countries in having negative interest rates. Comments from UK central bank officials fuelled speculation among investors that the country may set benchmark interest rate below zero to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

The asset manager Schroders is growing a new European fund focused on sustainable debt. Bonds earmarked for sustainable purposes had been expected to be more resilient in a downturn. However, the swift March slump followed unprecedented economic lockdowns and an oil collapse, leaving portfolio managers scrambling for liquidity.