For example, iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSEArca: VXX) and VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX Short Term ETN (NYSEArca: TVIX) are off 23.8% and 44.3% over the past month, respectively. [ETF Spotlight: Volatility-Linked Funds]
In the final month of the year, ETFs following real estate, banks and small-cap stocks turned in the best performance.
Conversely, the slide in precious metals in December has weighed on funds that invest in miner shares and silver. Other laggards this month include natural gas, Russia and palladium ETFs.
Market Vectors Gold Miners (NYSEArca: GDX) is off about 9% over the past month. [Gold Miner ETFs Sink to New 52-Week Low]
PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury
Full disclosure: John Spence owns ZSL.