Notable ETF Movers of the Day 10/22: USO, SMH Higher; UNG, VXX, XLU, XLB Lower

• United States Oil (NYSE: USO) up 0.32% to $34.96. Oil futures are trading higher today as economic data from Europe and China are driving prices. Investors will also be paying attention to the G-20 summit in South Korea. There is also a riot happening in France between protestors and police ast a Total oil refinery in Grandpuits
  
  
• Semiconductor HOLDRs (NYSE: SMH) up 0.92% to $28.40. May be getting an indirect boost from Cypress Semi (NYSE: CY), who reported solid third quarter earnings and announced a 600 million stock buyback plan after the market closed yesterday. Shares of CY are up nearly 5% in midday trading.

• United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG) down 2.03% to $5.31. Continuing lower from yesterday's increase in supplies above expectations, though prices may shift as cooler weather settles in for most of the nation.
  
  
• iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX) down 3.50% to $12.96. The CBOE VIX near-term volatility index is trading about 0.6% lower today, as investors are caught in limbo between no economic data, stagnant FX, and imminent QE2 measures. Markets are hovering around the break even mark today, with the Nasdaq up 0.4% in midday trading.
  
  
• Utilities Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLU) down 0.94% to $31.78. Led by Exelon (NYSE: EXC) today, as the company reported solid Q3 numbers, but rising fuel costs and depreciation expenses may have investors taking it easy today. Shares of the stock are trading down 3% midday.
  
  
• Materials Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLB) down 0.46% to $34.38. Normally stable, seeing a little movement today as Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) reported their third quarter results yesterday, beating estimates, but received a downgrade from Canaccord Genity, whoc cited recent price movement. Canaccord cut FCX from Buy to Hold, but increased their price target from $93 to $98. FCX is trading about 2% lower today.

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