TSC Ratings Starts Coverage on 18 Funds

TheStreet.com Ratings initiated coverage of 18 open-end mutual funds that accrued a track record of three years of risk and performance data by the end of February.

Two of the funds that opened for business in Feb. 2005 received our top rating. Both funds have had a rough time over the last five months. However, over the long run, these funds have outperformed the other funds we rated on return and volatility.

The ING International Value Choice Fund(IVCAX Quote - Cramer on IVCAX - Stock Picks) earned an initial rating of A+. The fund is focused on stocks from Japan, Canada, France, South Africa, and Australia. Some of the largest holdings include Nippon Telegraph & Telephone(NTT Quote - Cramer on NTT - Stock Picks), Barrick Gold (ABX Quote - Cramer on ABX - Stock Picks), AngloGold Ashanti(AU Quote - Cramer on AU - Stock Picks) and Newmont Mining(NEM Quote - Cramer on NEM - Stock Picks).

The A+ rated ING Value Choice Fund (PAVAX Quote - Cramer on PAVAX - Stock Picks) differs in that it has 65.3% U.S. stocks. The holdings performing well over the last year include Newmont Mining, which rose 22.28%; Kinross Gold(KGC Quote - Cramer on KGC - Stock Picks), up 65.31%; Peabody Energy(BTU Quote - Cramer on BTU - Stock Picks), with a gain of 47.37%; and Lihir Gold(LIHR Quote - Cramer on LIHR - Stock Picks), with a gain of 67.51%.

Three of the funds listed below turned in extraordinary performance over the year ended Feb. 29 by investing in commodities. They miss out on top ratings, since highly volatile funds are considered riskier.

A 37.47% return over the last 12 months helped the DWS Commodity Securities Fund (SKNRX Quote - Cramer on SKNRX - Stock Picks) to an initial B- rating. This has been a good year to hold First Solar(FSLR Quote - Cramer on FSLR - Stock Picks), up 290.41%; Owens-Illinois(OI Quote - Cramer on OI - Stock Picks), up 117.30%; and Monsanto (MON Quote - Cramer on MON - Stock Picks), 114.14% higher.

Starting out at the center of the pack, the Blackrock All-Cap Global Resources Fund (BACAX Quote - Cramer on BACAX - Stock Picks), rated C, jumped 47.55% in the 12-month period. The fund's largest holdings are Transocean(RIG Quote - Cramer on RIG - Stock Picks), up 68.53%; Consol Energy(CNX Quote - Cramer on CNX - Stock Picks), gaining 88.26%; Potash(POT Quote - Cramer on POT - Stock Picks), up 160.99%; and Hess(HES Quote - Cramer on HES - Stock Picks), up 91.90%.

Lastly, the Direxion Commodity Bull 2X Fund(DXCLX Quote - Cramer on DXCLX - Stock Picks) gained 73.78%, with 200% leverage to the Morgan Stanley Commodity Related Index. Only about 21% of this fund is invested directly in equities with the remainder in a portfolio of stock index futures, swaps, and options contracts.

Research Methodology

TheStreet.com Ratings condenses the available fund performance and risk data into a single composite opinion of each fund's risk-adjusted performance. This allows the unbiased identification of those funds that have historically done well and those that have underperformed the market. While there is no guarantee of future performance, these Investment Ratings provide a solid framework for making informed, timely investment decisions.

Funds rated A or B are considered "Buy" rated based on a track record of higher than average risk-adjusted performance. Funds at the C level are rated as "Hold," while underperformers at the D and E levels our model ranks as "Sell."

New Coverage of Open-end Stock Mutual Funds as of February 29, 2007

Fund (Ticker) Initial Rating	Total Return 1 Year	Total Return 3 Years	Inception Date	Investment Style
ING International Value Choice A (IVCAX) A+	7.34%	11.71%	2/1/2005	Non-US Equity
ING Value Choice A (PAVAX) A+	4.77%	16.43%	2/1/2005	Mid Cap
Transamerica Premier SmCp Val Inst (TPSMX) A	25.77%	17.81%	2/1/2005	Small Cap
Janus Global Research Fund (JARFX) A-	12.36%	17.75%	2/25/2005	Growth - Domestic
HSBC Inv Lifeline Grw Strategy A (HAGRX) A-	2.15%	9.58%	2/8/2005	Growth - Domestic
HSBC Inv Lifeline Agg Gr Strat A (HAAGX) A-	3.19%	10.89%	2/14/2005	Aggressive Growth
HSBC Inv Lifeline Mod Gr Strat A (HSAMX) B+	1.73%	7.71%	2/3/2005	Growth & Income
JPMorgan Value Advtg A (JVAAX) B+	-3.90%	8.76%	2/28/2005	Growth & Income
American Century Focused Growth Inv (AFSIX) B	3.07%	6.43%	2/28/2005	Growth - Domestic
J Hancock Small Cap Intrin Val A (JHIAX) B	-1.59%	15.12%	2/28/2005	Small Cap
HSBC Inv Lifeline Cons Gr Strat A (HACGX) B	1.52%	6.12%	2/23/2005	Growth & Income
DWS Commodity Securities A (SKNRX) B-	37.47%	16.36%	2/14/2005	Energy/Natural Res
Janus Fd Inc-Triton Fund (JATTX) C+	2.90%	13.31%	2/25/2005	Small Cap
BlackRock All Cap Glb Resrces Inv A (BACAX) C	47.55%	29.88%	2/16/2005	Energy/Natural Res
DWS S&P 500 Index Fund A (SXPAX) C-	-4.19%	4.70%	2/18/2005	S&P 500 Index
ProFunds-Rising US Dollar Svc (RDPSX) C-	-9.19%	-1.04%	2/17/2005	Growth - Domestic
Direxion Commodity Bull 2X Fd (DXCLX) C-	73.78%	29.60%	2/17/2005	Growth - Domestic
ING SmallCap Value Multi-Manager A (SAAAX) D	-16.64%	3.94%	2/1/2005	Small Cap

Source: TheStreet.com Ratings. For an explanation of our ratings, click here.