Alternative energy index to launch

A new index tracking the performance of a portfolio of US alternative energy stocks is set to be launched on Friday, among the first to focus on the relatively young and fast-growing sector. The launch comes as high oil prices, geopolitical uncertainty and worries about climate change are generating growing investor interest in non-hydrocarbon based energy businesses.

Merriman Curhan Ford, the San Francisco-based boutique investment bank, has developed the Merriman next generation energy index, which will be listed on NYSE Arca from on Friday.

yahoo