Dion's Thursday ETF Winners and Losers

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Welcome to Don Dion's "Daily ETF Winners and Losers." Be sure to stop by each day to find out which ETFs are gaining or losing.

Winners

Market Vectors Poland ETF (PLND) 5.0%

PLND and a slew of other Europe-related ETFs are powering higher following news that five central banks hailing from across the developed world would take steps in hopes of warding off a liquidity crisis in the eurozone.

Despite the gains seen from funds like PLND, iShares MSCI Sweden Index Fund (EWD) and SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF (FEZ), I encourage investors to use extreme caution when looking to this region.

United States Brent Oil Fund (BNO) 2.8%

Strength seen across various corners of the developed world is helping to push the futures-backed Brent crude ETF to industry-leading highs. The United States Gasoline Fund (UGA) are also heading higher.

That's not the case for all corners of the energy markets, however. Natural gas prices are running into trouble as we approach the weekend. Shares of United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) and iPath Dow Jones UBS Natural Gas Subindex Total Return ETN (GAZ) are struggling in light of the Energy Information Administration's weekly storage report.

Guggenheim Timber ETF (CUT) 2.5%

Today's positive market action is helping to rekindle investor confidence in the global economic recovery picture. As a result, ETFs linked to growth-correlated industries like timber and copper are catching a lift. CUT and the First Trust ISE Global Copper Index ETF (CU) are some of the biggest movers.

Losers

iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures ETN (VXX) -3.5%

Broad market strength is helping to instill some welcomed confidence into the hearts and minds of wearied investors. In response, the fear-tracking VIX is heading lower, leading ETNs like VXX to a third day of declines.

Investors should continue to exercise caution despite today's strength. Maintaining a level of defense will be essential to navigating market shakiness down the road.

iShares Silver Trust (SLV) -2.7%

Precious metals are stumbling as upward market action drives investors out of safe-haven asset classes. Physically-based silver ETFs like SLV are leading the way lower.

Gold and other shiny commodities are struggling as well. Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) and ETFS Physical Platinum Shares (PPLT) are seeing notable declines.

Palladium appears to be bucking this trend however. During early afternoon trading the ETFS Physical Palladium Shares (PALL) ETF was trading in positive territory.

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