NewBloomberg offers new gender-equality index to promote women’s roles in business

Bloomberg has launched a gender-equality index to promote gender diversity and encourage companies to have more women represented in their management boards.

“Investors can use this as a basis for choosing their socially responsible investments,” said Angela Sun, Bloomberg’s head of strategy and corporate development. “If your company is on there, it means that you are a leader among your peers in gender-equality.”

The index was launched in May 2016 with 26 global financial firms including HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank, which have proven track records in gender policies,the number of women on board, clients base, products and their social contribution.

Only US-listed companies, or those listed as American Depository Receipts, with US$1 billion in market value can qualify as members on the index. Other current members include Citibank, Metlife and Visa.

Sun was in Hong Kong, Tokyo and other Asian markets last week to introduce the index and encourage more Asian companies to join the index.

Companies that want to join could submit their gender equality policies to Bloomberg by October 26, including the number of women on their management boards, their remuneration policies, information about their maternity leaves, and their community services to promote gender equality.