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
SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF ( XSD) 5.7% ETFs designed to track the performance of the semiconductor industry are surging during middle of the week, with XSD nearing its November highs. Micron Technology ( MU) and Texas Instruments ( TXN) are two standout performers, gaining over 6% in early afternoon trading. On Thursday, semis will be particularly interesting to watch when Intel ( INTC) (INTC) steps up to the earnings plate. iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction Index Fund ( ITB) 4.1% After two days of downward action, ITB has regained its footing and is once again leading the way higher. Although it is lagging ITB, the SPDR S&P Homebuilder ETF ( XHB) is also sitting in solid positive territory. REIT-heavy funds like the iShares Dow Jones Real Estate Index Fund ( IYR) and the iShares Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index Fund ( ICF) are pushing higher, albeit to a lesser extent. iShares MSCI Indonesia Investable Market Index Fund ( EIDO) 3.5% A variety of emerging market ETFs are reveling in today's market gains. Strength can be seen around the globe, as evidenced by the positive moves seen from EIDO, the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund ( EWZ) and the iShares MSCI Turkey Investable Market Index Fund ( TUR). iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund ( EWL) 2.8% Despite the S&P's sweeping European ratings downgrade, investors continue to take out bets on this troubled corner of the developed world. An encouraging report from the International Monetary Fund is helping to ignite confidence in this region. Earlier today, the organization stated that it intends to boost its lending facility in order to aid nations that are struggling in the face of the eurozone sovereign debt saga.Losers
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures ETN ( VXX) -3% The IMF and Goldman Sachs ( GS) are helping to reinvigorate investor confidence, putting an end to the fear-tracking VIX index's two-day string of gains. This morning, the Wall Street giant released its quarterly earnings performance which showed that, while the firm watched its profits take a hit, it still managed to beat out analyst expectations. VXX continues to test its 2012 lows. Teucrium Corn ETF ( CORN) -1.6% Forecasts for ample supplies have helped push corn futures prices lower during mid-week trading. This is creating turmoil for CORN and the iPath Dow Jones UBS Corn Subindex Total Return ETN ( JJG). CORN has had a rough start to 2012. Over the past few weeks, the fund has given back nearly all of the gains seen during its late-December run up. The futures-tracking iPath Dow Jones UBS Natural Gas Subindex Total Return ETN ( GAZ) is struggling as well. With over 1% losses, GAZ has extended its losing streak to seven sessions. All prices as of 2:14 PM EST Written by Don Dion in Williamstown, Mass.
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