Solar And Single-Country ETFs On A Roll

Shares of the following exchange traded funds are trading more than 15 percent higher than 90 days ago, and they are within 10 percent of their 52-week highs.

This set of ETFs provides a peek at areas of investor interest early in the fourth quarter, with the uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, the government shutdown and debt ceiling fight, and the lead-up to the holiday shopping season.

First Trust BICK Index Fund BICK is trading more than four percent higher than a week ago as it recovers from a pullback early in the month and takes another run at the 52-week reached early in the year.

The investment seeks results that correspond generally to the price and yield the ISE BICK Index, which is designed to provide a benchmark for investors interested in tracking some of the largest and most liquid public companies domiciled in Brazil, India, China (including Hong Kong) and South Korea.

Global X FTSE Greece 20 ETF GREK is up more than 27 percent in the past quarter, despite pulling back about six percent in the past month. The Greek economy appears to have reached bottom, but Greece remains one of the cheapest markets in the world.

The investment seeks to provide results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the FTSE/Athex 20 Capped Index, which is designed to reflect broad-based equity market performance in Greece. Top holdings include Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling CCH and National Bank of Greece NBG.

See also: Niche ETF of the Week: China Technology

Guggenheim Solar ETF TAN is about 133 percent higher than at the beginning of the year . Some experts see further upside, as demand for photovoltaic cells rises particularly in China and Japan, and the Chinese government continues to support the industry.

The investment seeks results that correspond to the performance of the MAC Global Solar Energy Index. Top holdings in the ETF include First Solar FSLR, SunPower SPWR and SolarCity SCTY.

iShares MSCI Finland Capped Investable Market Index Fund EFNL is trading more than 17 percent higher than three months ago and about 26 percent higher year to date. This ETF got a boost in September on news that Microsoft MSFT would buy the wireless device business of Nokia NOK.

The investment seeks results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Finland IMI 25/50 Index, which is a custom index designed to measure broad-based equity market performance in Finland. The fund's top holdings include Nokia.

iShares MSCI South Korea Capped Investable Market Index Fund EWY is more than 15 percent higher over the past three months, including up more than four percent in the past week. Wisdom Tree recently launched a similar, Korea-focused ETF.

This non-diversified fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index. The underlying index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Stock Market Division of the Korean Exchange. Top holdings include Samsung Electronics.

See also: Home Depot Boosting ETFs

Market Vectors Egypt Index ETF EGPT is up about 21 percent from six months ago and is again approaching the 52-week high reached early in the year. Note that this fund has a distribution yield near seven percent.

The investment seeks to replicate the price and yield performance of the Market Vectors Egypt Index, which is comprised of securities of companies incorporated in Egypt or that generate at least half of their revenues in Egypt.

Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF KWT has risen more than 44 percent in the past 90 days, despite pulling back more than three percent in the past week. As with Guggenheim Solar ETF, strong solar demand in the Asia-Pacific region also has been instrumental in lifting this fund.

The investment seeks results that correspond to the price and yield of the Ardour Solar Energy Index by investing in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies primarily engaged in the production of solar power. Top holdings include First Solar and SunEdison SUNE.

At the time of this writing, the author had no position in the mentioned equities.