Notable ETF Movers of the Day 01/06: VXX, UNG, XHB Higher; USO, XRT, FXI Lower

• iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX) up 0.87% to $36.14. The ETF is a little flip-floppy today, as investors digest jobless claims today, as well as news that the U.S. could hit its legal limit to borrow as early as March 31, 2011, unless Congress acts to increase it, according to Fed secretary Tim Geithner. The current ceiling is $14.3 trillion. The CBOE VIX near-term index is up 1.3% currently.
  
  
• United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG) up 2.13% to $6.24. Natural gas prices are jumping today on a 135 billion cubic foot drop to $3.097 trillion in reserves. The amount was larger than the 131 billion cubic feet originally forecast by a Bloomberg survey. Five-year data shows historical draws of 79 bcf for the week.
  
  
• SPDR S&P Homebuilders (NYSE: XHB) up 0.28% to $17.62. The ETF led by Pier 1 Imports Inc. (NYSE: PIR), who reported a 10.3% increase in comps for December. Shares of PIR are up 2.3% on the day.

• United States Oil (NYSE: USO) down 2.10% to $37.71. Oil seeing a little pressure today, as initial jobless claims of 409K beats expectations for 405K. Continuing claims of 4.103 million also beat the consensus of 4.07 million. Lower amounts of people working translates into lower need to crude products.
  
  
• SPDR S&P Retail (NYSE: XRT) down 1.24% to $47.15. As we move into December retail sales, retailers are seeing a little pinch on results that may miss views. GameStop (NYSE: GME) is down 4% today following an increase in comps of 3.4% for December, but maintaining their outlook. Children's Place (Nasdaq: PLCE) is also seeing some downside today, off 3.3% as Buckingham Research downgraded shares from Buy to Neutral.
  
  
• iShares FTSE China 25 Index Fund (NYSE: FXI) down 1.15% to $43.81. Concerns over further monetary tightening are swirling ahead of economic data reporting inflation in December and 2010 GDP expected out on January 20, 2011.

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