This Week's ETF Winners & Losers

Financial- and homebuilder-related exchange traded-funds were among the winners this week, as investors weighed a government-led plan to stave off massive foreclosures amid the ongoing housing slump and credit crunch.

President Bush on Thursday announced a multi-pronged plan developed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and mortgage industry leaders that includes freezing for five years certain subprime, adjustable rate mortgages about to reset. Bush also pledged to work with other homeowners to refinance existing loans or move into loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.

News of the plan first leaked last Friday in a report in The Wall Street Journal, pushing shares of mortgage lenders higher. Lenders like Countrywide Financial (CFC Quote) and Citigroup (FRE Quote) continued to advance throughout the past week as more details of the plan emerged.

The Ultra Financial ProShares (UYG Quote) ETF edged higher 0.8% to $47.09. The Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF Quote) ETF rose 0.8% to $31.25. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers (IAI Quote) ETF was higher by 1% to $51.55.

Among homebuilders, the SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB Quote) ETF climbed 8.4% to $20.65. The iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction (ITB Quote) ETF added 10.9% to $19.02.

The Semiconductor HOLDRs (SMH Quote) rose 3.3% in a week that saw a host of news from the chip sector, including a report that worldwide semiconductor sales rose 5% in October. Also, affirmed forecasts came from Altera (ALTR Quote) and Xilinx (XLNX Quote).

National Semiconductor (NSM Quote) had a disappointing revenue forecast, but the shares still had a winning week.

The PowerShares Dynamic Hardware & Consumer Electronics (PHW Quote) ETF was also stronger, advancing 1.3% over the five sessions.

The Retail HOLDRs (RTH Quote) was up 1.6% during a week that saw shaky results from parts of the chain-store sector.

Quarterly profits plunged at Chico's (CHS Quote), and November same-store sales were mixed for a month that included the start of the important holiday shopping season. Still, the retail group overall had gains.