Winners & Losers

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This Week's ETF Winners & Losers

Robert Holmes

Overseas-related exchange-traded funds were among the best performers of the week as Asia's markets were stronger.

The SPDR S&P China (GXC) ETF added 5.8% to close at $79.25. The iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (FXI) was higher by 4.7% at $150.35. The iShares MSCI South Korea Index (EWY) gained 3% to $63.98, and the SPDR S&P Emerging Markets (GMM) finished up 2.5% to $68.45.

On the other hand, the United States Natural Gas (UNG) ETF continued to slide. The ETF ended down 4.3% to $33.95.

Bundled securities tracking utilities were also on the losing side this week. Among individual names, Exelon (EXC), Edison International (EIX) and FirstEnergy (FE) all fell by 3% or more.

The Ultra Utilities ProShares (UPW) lost 3.9% to $75.33. The Utility HOLDRs (UTH) was lower by 2.2% to $139.64. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Utilities (IDU) was down 2.2% to $94.22. The PowerShares FTSE RAFI Utilities (PRFU) shed 2.1% to $56.24.

Lenders and other finance names fell hard as the major indices swung back and forth between positive and negative, and in short time spans, as investors tried to get a handle on their worries about the credit market. Countrywide (CFC), Lehman Brothers (LEH) and Merrill Lynch (MER) slid 3.2% or more.

The Ultra Financials ProShares (UYG) ETF dropped 3.2% to $55.37. The PowerShares Dynamic Financials (PFI) ETF gave back 1.9% to $24.79. The First Trust Financials AlphaDex (FXO) ETF ended down 1.3% to $17.72.