Alt-energy stocks rise on the stimulus' tide

[jpak]

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/04/17/17greenwire-altenergy-stocks-rise-on-the-stimulus-tide-10577.html

NEW YORK -- Federal stimulus spending is giving a big lift to alternative energy companies' stock values, helping the clean technology sector outperform the overall market over the past month.

Renewable energy stock indices are all on the rise. The NASDAQ Clean Edge Total Return Index has jumped by more than 25 percent in the last month. The WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index (NEX), a closely watched indicator of the health of the alternative energy and cleantech industry, is also up by almost 25 percent from a month ago.

Likewise, Dow Jones reports that its U.S. Total Stock Market Alternative Energy Index grew by 13.45 percent in March and continues to trend upward. Even the less-cited REW 40 index compiled by the Web site Renewable Energy World has been trending up in April, closing yesterday at 13.35 percent higher than a month ago.

And the phenomenon is not limited to U.S. markets. Dow Jones' global Alternative Energy Index rose by 12.34 percent in March and has risen a further 19 percent over the past four weeks.

<more>