SWITZERLAND - The Swiss sustainable investment market reached a volume of CHF30bn (€19bn) by the end of December 2007 - an increase of 67% over the whole of the year, according to a new study.

"Accounting also for sustainable assets managed in Switzerland on behalf of foreign subsidiaries or clients, the total figure for the Swiss sustainable investment market  rises to CHF34bn by the end of 2007," said the Zürich-based research company onValues in its latest report.

Assets managed by means of sustainable funds and other collective vehicles grew 92% in the same period, while the total Swiss fund market actually saw its volume decrease by 1%.

New products, particularly those relating to themes such as water, renewable energies and climate change, contributed to the boom in sustainable investments, while equities are by far the most important asset class  as they account for 83% of the total assets invested.

Funds account for approximately 55%, mandates for 41% while structured products also made up 3.4% of the total sustainable investment market volume.

OnValues said the market data was produced as part of a half-yearly survey, overseen by an advisory group of financial institutions including Bank Sarasin, Ethos, SAM, Swisscanto, UBS, Vontobel and Zürcher Kantonalbank.

A total of 19 managers reported their assets under  management (AuM) for the study, in a range of different sustainable investment styles.

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