Christian Stock Index Launched

[pinkocommie]

The STOXX Europe Christian Index, which comprises 533 European companies dovetailing Christian values, was launched Monday, echoing surging demand for ethical stocks, the Financial Times reported Monday.

Available in price and net return versions, and calculated in euros and US dollars, the STOXX Europe Christian Index is a new benchmark among all stocks in the STOXX Europe 600 Index set up by STOXX, a global index provider.

"With the launch of the STOXX Europe Christian Index, STOXX acknowledges the growing number of Christian market participants who wish to invest in accordance with their religious beliefs," said Hartmut Graf, chief executive officer of STOXX Ltd, while expressing the motive behind the move.

http://business.globaltimes.cn/world/2010-04/526598.html

Evidently, companies are excluded if they profit from porn, weapons, tobacco, birth control or gambling. The companies who are allowed to participate are screened by a committee that includes Vatican reps.

I guess it just seems weird to me that businesses are banding together because of their common belief in Christianity - needles and camels and all that.

[elliebean]

ethical stocks

Interesting choice of words. Should we take that to mean they also won't be profiting from war, slave labor, child labor, animal cruelty, envonmental  destruction, discriminatory practices, fraud, etc....?

[Davin]

ethical stocks

Interesting choice of words. Should we take that to mean they also won't be profiting from war, slave labor, child labor, animal cruelty, envonmental  destruction, discriminatory practices, fraud, etc....?

I think all those things are fine, just as long as they don't do porn, weapons, tobacco, birth control or gambling.

[pinkocommie]

Interesting choice of words. Should we take that to mean they also won't be profiting from war, slave labor, child labor, animal cruelty, envonmental  destruction, discriminatory practices, fraud, etc....?

I think all those things are fine, just as long as they don't do porn, weapons, tobacco, birth control or gambling.

I laugh every time I see 'birth control' included in that list.  It's like the Sesame Street game 'one of these things is not like the other...'

[McQ]

Wow, what a screening process they're using! This kind of thing is so bizarre. Why do they even bother?  

[AlP]

There's also the S&P Shariah Index for investors interested in Shariah law. I also noticed there are mutual funds and indexes for different denominations of Christianity (Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc). Catholic oriented funds were the most restrictive as I remember. Some of them have done quite well though. I can find them again if anyone is interested.

I'm considering adding tobacco companies like Philip Morris to my portfolio some time in the future. Not right now though; they're too expensive. I know how to invest in defense and gambling companies. Does anyone know how to invest in pornography? I can't find any porn companies publicly listed.

[theTwiz]

Does anyone know how to invest in pornography?

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=205&name=Camcorders