Monday's ETF Winners & Losers

Exchange-traded funds tracking Asian markets were among the best performers Monday, as indices in Japan, Thailand and South Korea finished higher overnight.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% overnight, and both Thailand's Stock Exchange and South Korea's Kospi Index added 0.8%. Indices in Hong Kong and China were closed to start the week.

The iShares MSCI South Korea Index (EWY Quote) was up $2.84, or 4.2%, to $70.90. The SPDR S&P China (GXC Quote) was adding $3.29, or 3.5%, to $97.15. The iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (FXI Quote) was higher by $6.40, or 3.6%, to $186.40. The PowerShares Golden Dragon Halter USX China (PGJ Quote) ETF rose $1.01, or 3%, to $34.34.

Homebuilding and construction-related ETFs were also rising, after Citigroup upgraded Centex (CTX Quote), Lennar (LEN Quote), Pulte Homes (PHM Quote), D.R. Horton (DHI Quote) and Ryland Group (RYL Quote) to buy from hold, as the firm believed a near-term bounce was coming due.

The PowerShares Dynamic Building & Construction (PKB Quote) gained 55 cents, or 2.8%, to $20.39. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction (ITB Quote) was climbing 49 cents, or 2.5%, to $20.36. The SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB Quote) was up 50 cents, or 2.3%, to $21.90.

Bundled securities following the chipmakers were also among Monday's winners. Applied Materials (AMAT Quote), Xilinx (XLNX Quote), KLA-Tencor (KLAC Quote) and Intel (INTC Quote) were all rising.

The Ultra Semiconductor ProShares (USD Quote) rose $3.66, or 4.2%, to $91.79. The iShares S&P GSTI Semiconductor (IGW Quote) was up $1.54, or 2.3%, to $69.02. The PowerShares Dynamic Semiconductors (PSI Quote) added 41 cents, or 2.2%, to $19.10.

On the other hand, retail-related ETFs were among the worst performers after Walgreen (WAG Quote) reported dismal fiscal fourth-quarter earnings. The stock slid nearly 15% after the report, with rival CVS (CVS Quote) trading 5% lower in sympathy.

The Retail HOLDRs (RTH Quote) was losing 68 cents, or 0.7%, to $99.48. The PowerShares Dynamic Retail (PMR Quote) eased 3 cents, or 0.2%, to $17.82.