Notable ETF Movers of the Day 08/09: XRT, USO, FXE Higher; UNG, KBE, GLD Lower

• SPDR S&P Retail (NYSE: XRT) up 1.75% to $38.85. Retailers are trading higher today as McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) reported a 7% pop in July comps worldwide. Growth in EMEA was the largest, at 10.1%, the U.S. up 5.7%, and Europe with a 5.3% increase. Last week, many retailers reported mixed results for July, leaving the ETF down from the start of the week. Investors may also be buying in ahead of the Fed rate decision tomorrow.
  
  
• United States Oil (NYSE: USO) up 0.77% to $36.48. The Wall Street Journal puts it best, today: "Crude futures are trading higher Monday, gathering support from stronger European bourses as the dissipation of tropical depression Colin relegates market fundamentals to the back seat and lets external factors steer oil prices this week." Hedge fund managers also increased their net-long positions in crude, pushing positions to about 55,678 above net-short positions, potentially a bullish signal.
  
  
• CurrencyShares Euro Trust (NYSE: FXE) up 0.42% to $131.89. The U.S. dollar gained a little ahead of tomorrow's Fed announcement on speculation of a rebounding U.S. economy. Nonfarm payroll numbers at the end of last week fell short of expectations, with 71K private sector jobs added and 131K overall job losses for the month of July.

• United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG) down 3.57% to $7.30. Forecasts are calling for more mild temps across the mid- and southern U.S., but an extended hurricane season is leaving a few traders worried. A cluster of thunderstorms moving across Florida has about a 20% chance of forming into a tropical cyclone, according to NWS forecasters. September 2010 contracts are trading $0.131 lower to $4.336 today.
  
  
• SPDR KBW Bank (NYSE: KBE) down 0.25% to $24.04. Financials trading mixed today ahead of the Fed's rate decision tomorrow. Investors have seen lack-luster economic data recently, and will be paying attention to comments from the Fed about the economy and whether or not more stimulus will be started.
  
  
• SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) down 0.28% to $117.51. Marginally lower today, gold is holding on about the $1200/ounce mark ahead of the Fed interest rate decision tomorrow. December 2010 contracts are trading $0.70 lower to $1204.6//ounce today.

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