Here's a look at my ETF winners and losers for this week.
Winners:
iShares MSCI Austria Investable Market ( EWO) +3.4% iShares MSCI Italy Index Fund ( EWI)(EWI) +2.8% iShares MSCI Spain Index Fund ( EWP) +2.1% iShares MSCI Belgium Investable Market ( EWK) +1.8% iShares MSCI France Index ( EWQ) +2.2% iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund ( EWG) +1.2% The ETFs following the markets of European Union member nations were some of the biggest gainers this week. This week, the European Commission's economic sentiment indicator rose to 80.6 points from 76 points in July. The report adds to the growing number of indicators signaling that the global economic crunch is beginning to ease. Two weeks ago, I reported on France and Germany's rise from recession. As expected, the ETFs designed to track the markets of these two nations have followed suit. Others, it appears, are also jumping on the bandwagon. PowerShares Aerospace and Defense ( PPA) +2.0% Dow Jones U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index Fund ( ITA) +1.9% The aerospace and defense sector saw a boost this week as airplane manufacturing giant Boeing released positive information regarding its Dreamliner aircraft. On Thursday, the company announced that the craft, which has seen its fair share of delays, is now expected to see its first flight in 2009. SPDR S&P Homebuilders ( XHB) ETF +3.1% Reports of a big leap in sales of new homes last month sent homebuilder stocks higher this week. With a stimulus program offering new homebuyers $8,000 towards their purchase, the federal government is taking steps to ensure that the sector has hit bottom. Fears remain, however, over the possibility that this program may simply be sapping future demand.
Losers
Market Vectors Solar Energy ( KWT) -2.0% PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy ( PBW) -0.2% PowerShares DB Oil Fund ( DBO) -1.5% First Trust ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index Fund ( FCG) -1.6% Market Vectors Coal ( KOL)ETF -3.1% iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN ( OIL) -1.5% From coal to clean, much of the energy sector took a beating this past week. Oil managed to bounce back a bit towards the end of the week as the dollar headed back up. However, it was not enough to help black gold recover from the week's losses. Natural gas continued to spiral downwards. As I stated earlier this week, this trend is likely to continue unless a tragic Katrina-esque event sends prices back up. Coal, as predicted, headed south this week as Chinese mines reopened and suffocated the commodity's five month rally. iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund ( EWW) -1.5% iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund ( EWZ) -3.1% iShares MSCI Chile Investable Market Index Fund ( ECH) -2.6% ETFs designed to track Mexico and other Latin American nations slumped this week following the uncertainty of the U.S. markets. UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury ( TBT) -5.6% TBT was the week's biggest loser as choppy markets sent investors back into the bond markets. As long as the U.S. remains on shaky ground it is likely that this fund will continue to fall as investors lean towards more conservative instruments to protect their investments. |
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