SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The PowerShares
Cleantech Portfolio ETF (NYSE: PZD) finished first of 36 public
equity funds focused on clean energy and/or clean technology
according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Of the 36 mutual and exchange traded funds worldwide that
Bloomberg NEF tracked, the average fund fell 6.6% in 2010. In
contrast, PZD, which tracks The Cleantech Index™ (AMEX:
CTIUS) rose 7.5% in 2010 and rose 11.6% in Q1 2011.
Rafael Coven, Cleantech Indices'
Managing Director and Index Advisor, noted that the poor
performance of most renewable energy stocks in 2011 was a major
reason why Cleantech Index-based funds significantly outperformed
their peers. "Since the Cleantech Index is diversified across
many industries, it had less exposure to the volatile renewable
energy sector. In addition, the Index includes only the best
companies in each sector which tend to fare better than their
sectors as a whole. I expect this strategy will result in
continued long-term outperformance of peer funds and indices, but I
certainly don't expect that CTIUS-linked funds will finish first in
a given year. That's short-term stuff. We track a long-term
trend."
Added Cleantech Group's Managing Director for Europe & Asia, Richard
Youngman, "The Index doesn't track an industry or a region,
but rather a global megatrend that cuts across a wide range of
industries and geographies. Narrow industry sectors will rise
and fall dramatically, but we believe the growth in demand for
clean technology will continue to accelerate across many industries
for decades. The Index's four-year performance relative to
the S&P underlines that."
Other funds tracking the Cleantech Index had similar
performance: they include the recently listed PowerShares Cleantech
ETF in Mexico (ticker: PZD.MX) and
the KSM Cleantech Index ETF (Bloomberg ticker: KSMCLNT) in
Israel.
As part of its quarterly rebalancing, the Cleantech Index has
added Switzerland's SGS S.A.
(SGSN.VX) and Mistras Group (MG: NYSE) effective March 31, 2011.
About The Cleantech Index™ (CTIUS)
The Cleantech Index is the first, and only, equity index
intended to reflect the surging global demand for clean technology
products and services. CTIUS is comprised of 72 public
companies that are leaders in cleantech innovation and commercial
deployment from a broad spectrum of industry sectors: from energy
efficiency and renewables to advanced materials, water
purification, eco-friendly agriculture, etc.
By tracking the market performance of the premier cleantech
companies, CTIUS is the industry standard index used for a growing
range of financial products. Investors now have an easy,
cost-effective, and liquid means to invest in the broad cleantech
investment category - and do so with less risk than previously
possible.
For more information visit: www.cleantechindex.com
Contact: indexinfo@cleantech.com
About Cleantech Group™
Cleantech Group is a trusted global research and advisory firm
focused on cleantech innovation helping business leaders make
smarter, more strategic decisions involving clean technologies. In
addition to covering global innovation and investment trends,
Cleantech Group offers market intelligence and insights into
companies in the energy efficiency, smart grid, energy storage,
water and green transportation sectors. The company's growing
international client base includes global corporations, investors,
entrepreneurs, governments and service providers. Cleantech Group
also produces the premier Cleantech Forum® and Focus™ events
worldwide, including upcoming events in Amsterdam, Toronto and San
Francisco.
For more information: http://www.cleantech.com
SOURCE Cleantech Group, LLC