This Week's ETF Winners & Losers
Robert Holmes
09/28/07 - 04:44 PM EDT
Overseas-related exchange-traded funds were among the best performers of the week as Asia's markets were higher.
The
iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (FXI) advanced 6.9% to $180.10, and the
PowerShares Golden Dragon Halter USX China (PGJ) gained 6.4% to $33.28. The
SPDR S&P China (GXC) ETF added 6% to close at $93.89.
Precious metals-related ETFs were also higher over the five sessions. The
iShares Silver Trust (SLV) ETF added 1.8% to $136.58. The
streetTRACKS Gold Shares (GLD) ETF finished up 1.6% to $73.49. The
iShares Comex Gold Trust (IAU) ETF rose 1.5% to $73.54.
On the flipside, ETFs tracking the homebuilding sector were among the worst performers of the week, saddled by negative economic and earnings data.
During Tuesday's session, the National Association of Realtors said that existing-home fell 4.3% in August to 5.50 million annualized units, the lowest in five years. Additionally,
Lennar (LEN) said third-quarter revenue plummeted to $2.34 billion from $4.18 billion a year ago, falling short of consensus estimates.
KB Home (KBH) also posted a hefty loss from continuing operations.
On Thursday, the Census Bureau said new-home sales data fell 8.3% in August to 795,000 annualized units. Economists had anticipated a 5.2% decline. There was a net downward revision of 34,000 homes to the previous three months.
The
iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction (ITB) ETF tumbled 10.8% to $19.92. The
SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB) ETF lost 8% to $21.42.
Retail-related ETFs also finished with losses for the week. Late Monday, home improvement retailer
Lowe's (LOW) issued a profit warning, saying it now expects fiscal-year earnings at the low end or slightly below its previous guidance due to regional drought conditions hurting its outdoor offerings.
Target (TGT), meanwhile, reduced its forecast for September same-store sales growth to a range between 1.5% and 2.5%, compared with the previous forecast of 4% to 6%. The stock dropped 3% over the five sessions.
The
PowerShares Dynamic Retail (PMR) ETF eased 1.9% to $17.85. The
Retail HOLDRs (RTH) fell 1.8% to $100.18. The
SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) ETF ended down 1.3% to $39.13.