Barclays (BCS) dominates the list of the 25 best-rated exchange-traded funds on the strength of its fixed-income funds during the longest recession in more than half a century. Twenty-one of the 25 most highly rated ETFs are owned by Barclays or track a Barclays index.

Barclays retains the revenue generated from the securities servicing for iShares, although State Street (STT) and Bank of New York Mellon (BK) have been cited as potential bidders on this business.

Barclays retains the revenue generated from the securities servicing for iShares, although State Street (STT) and Bank of New York Mellon (BK Quote) have been cited as potential bidders on this business.

The three best-rated exchange-traded funds based on March 31 data are Market Vectors-Barclays AMT-Free Short Municipal ETF (SMB), SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (SHM) and the iShares Barclays 10-20 Year Treasury Bond Fund (TLH). In this time of financial uncertainty, the "buy"-rated fixed income ETFs listed below can be used to balance the overall risk in an investor's portfolio.

The three best-rated exchange-traded funds based on March 31 data are Market Vectors-Barclays AMT-Free Short Municipal ETF (SMB), SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (SHM) and the iShares Barclays 10-20 Year Treasury Bond Fund(TLH ). In this time of financial uncertainty, the "buy"-rated fixed income ETFs listed below can be used to balance the overall risk in an investor's portfolio.

The three best-rated exchange-traded funds based on March 31 data are Market Vectors-Barclays AMT-Free Short Municipal ETF (SMB), SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (SHM) and the iShares Barclays 10-20 Year Treasury Bond Fund(TLH ). In this time of financial uncertainty, the "buy"-rated fixed income ETFs listed below can be used to balance the overall risk in an investor's portfolio.

The only two non-fixed-income ETFs with top grades on the list are bullish currency plays. The PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) is a bet on the U.S. dollar against the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona and Swiss franc. The Market Vectors-Renminbi/USD ETN (CNY) uses short-term forward contracts to benefit from a rise in China's currency in relation to the U.S. dollar.

The only two non-fixed-income ETFs with top grades on the list are bullish currency plays. The PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) is a bet on the U.S. dollar against the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona and Swiss franc. The Market Vectors-Renminbi/USD ETN (CNY) uses short-term forward contracts to benefit from a rise in China's currency in relation to the U.S. dollar.