Retail-focused exchange-traded funds advanced on Thursday, positioning one major fund for its strongest weekly performance in over half a year.

The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) climbed more than 2% during the session, bringing its gain for the week to approximately 5.4%. If this increase holds, it will represent the fund's most significant weekly advance since last November, when it rose more than 5.5% in a single week.

Leading the fund's gains this week were Casey's General Stores and Abercrombie & Fitch, each surging around 19%. However, the fund's upward movement was partially restrained by declines in Chewy and EVgo, which fell 9.8% and 8%, respectively.