Monday's ETF Winners & Losers

Exchange-traded funds tracking gold and silver were among the best performers of Monday's session, as commodity futures traded up.

Gold prices were jumping recently by $8.20 to $726 an ounce. Silver was gaining 17 cents to $12.88 an ounce. Copper and other precious metals were also higher.

The PowerShares DB Silver (DBS Quote) was up 39 cents, or 1.6%, to $25.05. The PowerShares DB Gold (DGL Quote) added 34 cents, or 1.2%, to $28.12. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV Quote) was climbing $1.32, or 1.1%, to $126.12. The streetTRACKS Gold Shares (GLD Quote) was higher by 68 cents, or 1%, to $70.67.

On the other hand, ETFs tracking European bourses were losing ground after U.K. lender Northern Rock sank 40% on word that its customers withdrew roughly $4 billion from its branches. The stock had fallen 20% on Friday after Northern Rock sought emergency funding from the Bank of England, a sign that the subprime mortgage mess was spilling into overseas markets.

London's FTSE 100 was down 1.5%, the CAC 40 in Paris was off 1.8% and Germany's Xetra Dax was lower by 0.2%.

The iShares MSCI United Kingdom Index (EWU Quote) was losing 59 cents, or 2.4%, to $24.12. The PowerShares Dynamic Europe (PEH Quote) shed 42 cents, or 1.8%, to $23.36. The iShares MSCI France Index (EWQ Quote) was down 68 cents, or 1.9%, to $35.63.

The financial sector took a hit after the Northern Rock news. The Ultra Financial ProShares (UYG Quote) shed $1.49, or 2.7%, to $53.80. The WisdomTree International Financial (DRF Quote) ETF was lower by 57 cents, or 2.1%, to $26.84. The Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF Quote) was down 54 cents, or 1.6%, to $33.44.

Biotech-related ETFs were also losing ground as several holdings were trading lower. Amgen (AMGN Quote), Biogen Idec (BIIB Quote) and Gilead Sciences (GILD Quote) were all falling by 2% or more.

The Biotech HOLDRs (BBH Quote) was down $3.31, or 1.9%, to $170.11. The First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index (FBT Quote) lost 43 cents, or 1.7%, to $24.69. The PowerShares Dynamic Biotech & Genome (PBE Quote) slid 27 cents, or 1.4%, to $18.62.