Dion's Friday ETF Winners and Losers

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

Winners

iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures ETN (VXX) 4.3%

Stock market indices spent much of the past week heading higher. The rally, however, has appeared to peter out as we prepare to head into the long weekend, as a result of the disappointing earnings showing from banking giant JPMorgan (JPM) investor alarms in response to European downgrade fears.

This choppy environment is boding well for the fear-tracking VIX index and ETNs like VXX.

iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund (TLT) 1.5%

As fear replaces greed, investors are moving to a variety of safe-haven asset classes. Once again, the long term U.S. treasury-tracking TLT is witnessing a bounce off of its 50-day moving average. These gains have helped it lock in brand new 2012 highs.

The U.S. dollar is also seeing strength. Shares of PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) are capping off a choppy week with approximately 1% gains.

Losers

Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN) -5.1%

After spending the past four days surging higher, solar energy-tracking ETFs are taking a breather. Despite these losses, both TAN and Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (KWT) remain above their 50-day moving averages.

A week's worth of strength is not enough for more to confidently state that the pain is over for this volatile industry. Looming macroeconomic concerns could still wreak havoc in the days and weeks ahead. Tread carefully.

Market Vectors Coal ETF (KOL) -3.9%

Not surprisingly, growth-correlated sectors are among the most battered as we slide into the long weekend. Aside from KOL, the Market Vectors Steel ETF (SLX) and Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX) can also be found struggling in the waning hours of trading.

The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ) and other funds linked to precious metals producers are taking lumps as well.

iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund (EWG) -2.7%

A refreshingly strong week for European-related ETFs appears on track to end on a down note as fears of a mass-European downgrade dominate market-related discourse. Italy's marketplace is leading the way lower, despite kicking off the day with an encouraging bond auction.

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