Best And Worst ETFs Of The Week Amid A Sputtering Market

Stocks experienced pronounced swings in both directions this week, yet the major indices ultimately finished near the flat line. The lack of conviction over the last six months has frustrated many long-term investors who have become accustomed to consistent gains in the market.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY is tenuously holding a 2.70 percent gain so far this year and has gyrated fiercely near its 50-day moving average for the majority of 2015. Worries over interest rate fluctuations and Greek headlines continue to weigh on the broad market, yet there are several standout areas of strength in cybersecurity and biotechnology stocks.

The following ETFs represent a sample of the best- and worst-performing funds over the last five trading sessions.

BEST: Natural Gas Prices

After re-testing their lows in early June, natural gas prices are once again attempting to break out of their persistent downtrend. The United States Natural Gas Fund, LP UNG gained over 6 percent this week as traders bet on a turnaround in this commodity sector.

UNG tracks the daily price fluctuations of natural gas delivered in Henry Hub, Louisiana. This ETF has over $650 million in total assets and charges an expense ratio of 0.60 percent.

So far this year, UNG has declined 9 percent overall, yet continues to show brief periods of strength that may pique the interest of commodity investors.

Related Link: Best And Worst ETFs From Last Week Amid June Gloom

WORST: India Small Cap Stocks

Last week, small company stocks in India fell to the bottom of rankings, and that weakness has carried over into the second week of June. The EG Shares India Small Cap ETF (EGA Emerging Global Shares Trust SCIN) fell 5 percent over the last five trading sessions and is now sitting near 52-week lows.

This ETF tracks 75 companies domiciled in India with market capitalizations less than $2 billion. SCIN is now down over 15 percent so far in 2015 and continues to lead this emerging market on the downside.

Another ETF feeling these same effects is the Market Vectors India Small Cap Index ETF SCIF.