Notable ETF Movers of the Day 12/28: VXX, GLD, UNG Higher; FXI, XHB, FXE Lower

• iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX) up 1.82% to $39.16. Both home prices and consumer confidence took an unexpected dip today. The Case-Shiller 20-city Index came in a (0.8%) today, compared to the consensus of 0.1%. Consumer confidence for December was 52.5, versus expectations for 56.1.
  
  
• SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) up 1.58% to $137.15. Gold is back above the $1400/ounce mark today, as investors and traders are eyeing the metal on iffy currency trading. Notably, BusinessWeek highlights a 26% rise in gold for 2010, and an astounding 74% jump in silver prices. Noting that, iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV) is 3.2% higher today.
  
  
• United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG) up 0.80% to $5.68. Nat gas prices are seeing some upside today despite outlooks calling for a warmer end to 2010, as M&A in the sector is lifting demand for stonger demand going forward. First, Magnum Hunter Resources (NYSE: MHR) is expected to acquire Ngas Resources (Nasdaq: NGAS) in $98 million deal, and they also entered an agreement for the acquisition of $40 million in Marcellus Shale assets from PostRock Energy Corp. (Nasdaq: PSTR). Additionally, today, Kunlun Energy announced the $2.85 billion acquisition of a 60% stake in PetroChina Beijing Natural Gas Pipeline Co from PetroChina (NYSE:
  PTR).

• iShares FTSE China 25 Index Fund (NYSE: FXI) down 1.31% to $41.99. Continuing lower from a 25 basis interest rate hike by China's central bank, as the bank reaffirmed that they would be open to taking further action to economic stabilization
  
  
• SPDR S&P Homebuilders (NYSE: XHB) down 1.02% to $17.43. Lower today as the Case-Shiller index for October fell 0.8%, from an expected 0.1% gain. The ETF is being led lower by KB Home (NYSE: KBH), which is 2.84% this afternoon.
  
  
• CurrencyShares Euro Trust (NYSE: FXE) down 0.37% to $130.59. The euro seeing weakness versus the U.S. dollar on a thinly traded days today, as New Yorkers and many in the Eatern U.S. are finding commutes to be difficult and the week betweeen Christmas and New Year's Day is generally a quiet one on the Street.

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