Dion's Thursday 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

PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Portfolio (PJP) 3.6%

Vivus (VVUS) is taking off following the FDA panel's approval of its weight-loss drug Qnexa. The move ignited a 85% rally and is helping to lift a number of pharmaceutical- and biotechnology-related ETFs including PJP, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) and the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index Fund (IBB).

iShares Silver Trust (SLV) 3.3%

Silver-related ETFs are enjoying a lift as confidence drives investors into market-correlated asset classes. Both the bullion-backed SLV and the equity-tracking Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) are up over 2%.

Other corners of the precious metal spectrum are seeing mixed action. The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and the ETFS Physical Palladium Shares (PALL) are seeing sub-1% fluctuations.

Market Vectors Vietnam ETF (VNM) 2.3%

The Vietnam ETF continues to push higher, locking in a fifth day of gains and ascending to levels last seen in late September. Overall, Asia-focused ETFs are witnessing bipolar action. The iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund (THD) is following VNM higher while the Market Vectors Indonesia ETF (IDX) and the iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund (EWY) suffer losses.

Losers

Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (KWT) -7.1%

The solar energy industry has faced some steep headwinds over the past three days, pushing KWT and the Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN) to new February lows.

The back-and-forth action over the past month has been wild but is not overly surprising, given the volatile nature of this industry. Investors should use extreme caution here.

iPath Dow Jones UBS Natural Gas Subindex Total Return ETN (GAZ) -3.6%

For a second day, the premium-laden natural gas futures-tracking GAZ ETN is at the top of the losers list. The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is also heading lower, declining less than 2% in afternoon trading.

GAZ's premium has declined considerably from the highs seen at the start of the week. However, as long as this disconnect persists, this ETN should be avoided.

Market Vectors India Small Cap Index ETF (SCIF) -1.5%

India's marketplace is heading lower, pushing SCIF, the WisdomTree India Earnings ETF (EPI) and other India-related ETFs to a second day of steep downward action. Given the fund's steep run up, it will be interesting to see where SCIF eventually finds its footing.

All prices as of 2:12 PM EST

Written by Don Dion in Williamstown, Mass.

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At the time of publication, Dion Money Management owned iShares Gold Trust.