Van Eck Cuts Fees On Two Interational ETFs

Van Eck Global, the New York-based investment manager most known for natural resources investing, lowered expenses -- at least until May 1, 2012 -- on two of its country ETFs, one focused on Indonesia and the other on Poland. The price changes were effective Jan. 26.

The funds and the price cuts are:

• The Market Vectors Indonesia Index ETF (NYSEArca: IDX) now has a net expense ratio of 0.60 percent, compared with 0.68 percent previously.
• The Market Vectors Poland ETF (ticker: PLND) also now has a net expense ratio of 0.60 percent, compared to 0.65 percent previously.

“International funds generally have higher net expense ratios than domestic funds but we try to pass on lower expenses to shareholders as we achieve economies of scale,” Jan van Eck, principal at Van Eck, said in a press release.

San Francisco-based iShares market Indonesia ETFs as well. Both the MSCI Poland Investable Market Index Fund (NYSEArca: EPOL) and the MSCI Indonesia Investable Market Index Fund (NYSEArca: EIDO) have annual expense ratios of 0.61 percent, according to iShares’ website.

As of Jan. 27, assets in the four different funds were:

• $480.6 million for Van Eck’s IDX
• $65.9 million for Van Eck’s PLND
• $213.8 million for iShares’ EIDO
• $107.4 million for iShares’ EPOL.

list of international ETFs here