This Week's ETF Winners & Losers

Financial-related exchange traded-funds were among best performers during the last week of November, as dovish comments from the Federal Reserve and a possible freeze on adjustable-rate mortgages boosted related stocks.

Citigroup (C Quote) was the focus Tuesday, after the company said it will receive a $7.5 billion cash injection by selling a stake in the firm to an entity controlled by the government of Abu Dhabi.

On Wednesday, Fed Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said policymakers need to be "flexible and pragmatic" in order to deal with the uncertainty in the economy and financial arena, bolstering hopes for those who want to see the Fed reduce rates again.

After Thursday's close, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke echoed Kohn's remarks, suggesting that the U.S. housing slump and recent turmoil in the markets may be hitting economic growth.

Meanwhile, shares of Countrywide (CFC Quote), Freddie Mac (FRE Quote) and other lenders surged on Friday after a report in The Wall Street Journal said that the U.S. government and lenders were working on an agreement that would temporarily freeze rates on some adjustable-rate mortgage loans made to borrowers with weak credit.

The Ultra Financial ProShares (UYG Quote) ETF jumped 10.7% to $46.50. The Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF Quote) ETF rose 5.9% to $31. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers (IAI Quote) ETF was higher by 3.8% to $50.73.

ETFs tracking homebuilders were also among the best advancers, thanks to the rumors of the deal to keep adjustable rate mortgages from resetting to higher levels for some consumers.

For the week, the SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB Quote) ETF climbed 3% to $18.84. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction (ITB Quote) ETF added 1.6% to $17.17.

On the other hand, energy-related ETFs were among the worst performers, as crude sank below $89 a barrel. Oil prices dropped 9.6% for the week, ending at $88.71 a barrel.

The iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Index (OIL Quote) shed 9.2% to $51.55. The United States Oil (USO Quote) lost 9.1% to $69.75. The PowerShares DB Oil (DBO Quote) was down 6.8% to $33.18.

Bundled securities tracking gold futures were also lower over the five sessions. Gold futures slumped 5.1% for the week to close at $789.10 an ounce.

The Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX Quote) ETF finished down 5.1% at $46.36. The iShares Comex Gold Trust (IAU Quote) ETF eased 5% to $77.39. The streetTRACKS Gold Shares (GLD Quote) ETF finished down 4.8% to $77.32.