Winners & Losers

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This Week's ETF Winners & Losers

Robert Holmes

Bundled securities tracking semiconductors were among the best performers of a strong week, as the sector benefited from an upgrade of Intel (INTC) on Friday.

Goldman Sachs raised its rating for Intel to buy from neutral, capping off the stock's 11% rise for the week. Other strong names in the group were Applied Materials (AMAT), KLA-Tencor (KLAC), Texas Instruments (TXN) and Linear Technology (LLTC).

The Ultra Semiconductor ProShares (USD) ETF added 10% to $85.66. The Semiconductor HOLDRs (SMH) finished 4.1% higher at $38.24. The iShares Goldman Sachs Semiconductor (IGW) ETF climbed 3.4% to $66.57, and the SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) ETF rose 2.7% to $53.51.

Securities tracking crude oil were also among the gainers, even after the front-month July contract had a rough start to the week. Crude oil finished the week with a gain of 5% at $68 a barrel.

The Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (DIG) added 9.8% to $102.97. The Oil Services HOLDRs (OIH) ended the week up 6.2% to $177.65. The SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services (XES) ETF gained 5.9% to $37.35. The iPath S&P Crude Oil Index (OIL) added 5.1% to $37.89.

The Internet Infrastructure HOLDRs (IIH) was also among the winners of the week, thanks to advances of 7% or more in holdings Akamai Technologies (AKAM) and Vivo Participacoes (VIV). The ETF ended higher by 3% to $5.55.

Housing ETFs suffered losses during the week, following the Federal Reserve's regional business survey, known as the beige book. In the report, several regions reported continued weakness in residential construction and real estate.

Among individual names, Hovnanian (HOV) slid 6.7%, Pulte Homes (PHM) lost 3.6%, Toll Brothers (TOL) fell 3.3% and Lennar (LEN) finished the week down 3.2%.

For the week, the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction (ITB) ETF fell 2.8% to finish at $34.32. The SPDR Homebuilders (XHB) ETF shed 2.2% to $33.11.