Mubasher: Financial data giant Refinitiv launched the 2019 edition of the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) index, which featured the US, the UK and Australia as the countries where most globally and inclusive businesses are located.

This year’s edition of the index featured 13 pharmaceutical majors, such as Swiss drug maker Novartis, with 11 banking investment services and insurance firms, nine telecommunications companies, seven household products and services providers included.

It is worth noting that the D&I index top 100 constituents are ranked according to Refinitiv’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) data which measure around 7,000 companies representing 70% of global equity market capitalisation, across more than 400 data points.

“Those companies that have strong ESG aspects to their business tend to attract and retain employees and clients longer, which reduces turnover, costs and is very beneficial to the bottom line,” TABB Group’s founder and research chairman Larry Tabb said.

Among the prominent names on the top 100 list came professional services giant Accenture, Royal Bank of Canada, L'Oreal and Merck & Co.