Taipei - The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSEC) launched a Sharia Index Thursday to attract funds from Islamic countries and to help Taiwan break into Islamic nations' financial markets.

TSEC launched the TSEC Taiwan Sharia Index in conjunction with the FTSE Group - a London-based index company owned by the Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange.

The TSEC Taiwan Sharia Index covers 68 medium and major stocks selected from FTSE's global equity index series and listed on TSEC.

The Sharia Index excludes businesses that offer products and services which are considered unacceptable or non-compliant according to Sharia, or Islamic law, such as alcohol, gambling, pork and pornography. (dpa)