Winners & Losers

Return to Article

This Week's ETF Winners & Losers

Robert Holmes

Exchange-traded funds tracking basic materials were among the best performers of May's first full week following Monday's bid for a potential blockbuster deal between two major industrial concerns.

As the week started, Pittsburgh-based aluminum giant Alcoa (AA) said it was launching an effort to buy Canada's Alcan (AL) for $27 billion. Alcoa jumped 6.8%, and Alcan surged more than 31%.

The Ultra Basic Materials ProShares (UYM) ETF added 3.7% to $87. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Basic Materials (IYM) ETF was higher by 1.7% at $68.93. The Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) gained 1% to $39.78.

Semiconductor-related ETFs were also among the winners of the week, thanks to positive earnings news out of Nvidia (NVDA) Thursday. Excluding items, the company earned 42 cents a share, comfortably ahead of the Thomson Financial target. The chipmaker also offered a positive second-quarter forecast, and the stock rose 4.2% for the week.

The Ultra Semiconductor ProShares (USD) ETF climbed 2.5% at $82.89. The Semiconductor HOLDRs (SMH) added 1.3% to $37.98. The SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) ETF gained 1% to $53.39, and the iShares Goldman Sachs Semiconductor (IGW) ETF ended higher by 0.8% at $66.16.

On the losing side, the HealthShares Emerging Cancer (HHJ) ETF was the week's largest decliner. Holding Dendreon (DNDN) plummeted 68.5%, most of that after the Food and Drug Administration said it required more test data for the company's drug Provenge.

The HealthShares Emerging Cancer ETF finished the week lower by 16.2% to $22.54.

Gold-related ETFs also declined for the five sessions. Futures ended down 2.5% at $672.30 an ounce. The streetTRACKS Gold Shares (GLD) ETF eased 2.5% to end the week at $66.48. The iShares Comex Gold Trust (IAU) closed down 2.5% to $66.52, and the Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX) ETF slipped 1.9% to $39.92.

Elsewhere, ETFs tracking silver were among the worst performers. Silver futures fell 1.7% over the five days to close at $13.30 an ounce. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) slid 1.8% to $131.47. The PowerShares DB Silver (DBS) ETF shed 1.7% to $26.04.