Notable ETF Movers of the Day 03/17: (UNG) (XLE) (EWJ) Higher; (VXX) (UUP) Lower

• United States Natural Gas (NYSE: UNG) up 3.54% to $10.89. Nat gas stockpiles fell 56 billion cubic feet last week, a larger draw than the 44 Bcf that analysts were looking for according to a Dow Jones survey. April 11 contracts are up $0.142 to $4.080/mmBtu on the Comex.
  
  
• Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE) up 2.83% to $75.84. The energy ETF is making a nice little bounce today, after falling over 6% through the week over concerns about possible outcomes for Japan. News today has water reaching reactors to cool them, though other reports have Japan experiencing higher radiation levels about 30-km away from the explosion site in Fukushima. The ETF led by Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) today, which is up 4%.
  
  
• iShares MSCI Japan Index (NYSE: EWJ) up 6.01% to $10.23. Huge bounce from the Japan ETF today, as some tensions are relieved on better news following the massive earthquake that struck off the eastern coast, knocking out power, killing multitudes, and putting several nuclear plants in jeopardy of meltdown. Markets have hung on news from the world's third largest economy all week, looking for positive signs all the way. The ETF dropped as much as 17% throughout the last several trading sessions.
  
  

• iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX) down 5.24% to $35.66. The CBOE VIX is giving back a little today on eased market conditions, as many stocks rebound after a largely robust sell-off this week on Japan news. The VIX near-term index is down 13.4% today, to $25.46, after surging some 60% this week to over $30.
  
  
• PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish (NYSE: UUP) down 0.82% to $21.83. Investors exiting the safe haven of the U.S. dollar as the risk environment becomes more friendly for equities. Currencies, as well as metals like gold, become a safer alternative choice for investors in times of volatility.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Lowe's (LOW) PT Lowered to $275 at Guggenheim
• BofA says CTA Treasury shorts stable, euro short-cover risk rises
• UBS says bull market has further to run