The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) Friday announced today the launch of the CSE Composite Index.

The index is the first established by the CSE and is designed to measure the performance of equity securities listed on the exchange.

The index is market capitalization weighted and securities must meet minimum size requirements to qualify for inclusion.

“The growth of our marketplace has led to increased interest in CSE-listed securities,” says Richard Carleton, CEO of the CSE. “This new index reflects a broad spectrum of entrepreneurial companies and provides a gauge for investors to assess this unique segment of the Canadian capital markets.”

The ondex is calculated and published by Germany-based Solactive AG. Solactive calculates indices for 160 clients in Europe, America and Asia.

The new index is distributed through major data vendors and the CSE.

Recognized as an exchange by the Ontario Securities Commission in 2004, the CSE is home to more than 270 uniquely listed issues covering a broad range of industry sectors. The exchange is operated by Toronto-based CNSX Markets Inc.