Indonesia ETF, Up 146%, Gets Top Rating

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The Market Vectors Indonesia Index ETF(IDX), which has soared 146% over one year, was the highest-ranking and best-performing newly rated exchange traded fund covered by TheStreet.com.

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TheStreet.com Ratings, the research unit of TheStreet.com, initiated coverage of 11 exchange traded funds that accrued a sufficient track record of risk and performance data by the end of January. Six of the newly rated ETFs earned initial grades in the "buy" range, two at "hold" and three at "sell."

Three of the six "buy"-rated funds that opened for business in January 2009 received our highest possible rating of A-plus, or excellent.

The Market Vectors Indonesia Index ETF has about $234 million in assets. The unleveraged fund, which has received an A-plus rating, tracks the Market Vectors Indonesia Index, whose members generate at least 50% of revenue from Indonesia. The largest holdings include 8.3% in PT Astra International(PTAIF), 7.4% in Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk PT(TLK), 6.8% in Bank Central Asia Tbk PT and 6.0% in Bumi Resources Tbk PT(PBMRF).

The Direxion Mid Cap Bull 3X Shares(MWJ) was the second-highest rated and second-best performer of the newly rated exchange traded funds. It jumped 119% in a year, helped by borrowed money to bet on members of the Russell Mid Cap Index.

Performance, along with moderate volatility, which is uncharacteristic of triple-leveraged funds, enabled Direxion Mid Cap Bull 3X Shares to secure an A-plus rating. The mid-cap index comprises the 800 smallest stocks in the Russell 1000 Index but add up to less than a third of assets. Top-performing holdings include Zions Bancorporation(ZION), Whitney Holding(WTNY) and Synovus Financial(SNV).

The last of the three A-plus ETFs listed above was the Claymore/NYSE Arca Airline ETF(FAA). It gained 33% during one year on high-flying holdings of Delta Air Lines(DAL), AMR Corp.(AMR) and Southwest Airlines(LUV).