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XLF
Market Gets a Timeline for China Talks, Just in Time for Earnings Season

Market Gets a Timeline for China Talks, Just in Time for Earnings Season

Investors just got a timeline for the most important concern facing the market, President Trump's trade war with China. Last night, CNBC reported that Vice Premier Liu He will visit Washington on October 10 and 11. Those are the first specific details the talks since...

What You Need to Know as Money Rotates Back to Value Stocks

What You Need to Know as Money Rotates Back to Value Stocks

A potentially big change tried to continue in the market yesterday. Two weeks ago, a new kind of stocks began to rally: banks, industrials, retailers and small caps. Meanwhile previous outperformers including technology, gold miners and real-estate investment trusts...

The Yield Curve Inverted, and the Bears Are Going to Work

The Yield Curve Inverted, and the Bears Are Going to Work

The big story today is that weak economic numbers overseas caused the yield curve to invert. That means the yield on 10-year Treasury bonds fell below the two-year rate. Stocks, especially financials, are crashing as a result. The "inverted curve" is a potentially big...

‘Risk On’ Sectors Lead as Stocks Try to Break Out

‘Risk On’ Sectors Lead as Stocks Try to Break Out

Investors are favoring riskier parts of the market as the S&P 500 tries to break out to new highs. Semiconductors, industrials, banks, energy and materials have each gained at least 2 percent in the last week, according to RadarScreen®. Those sectors are highly...

Financial ETF Soaring as Sentiment Quickly Turns Positive

Financial ETF Soaring as Sentiment Quickly Turns Positive

Financial stocks are on the move as changing sentiment draws money back to a forgotten corner of the market. The SPDR Financial ETF (XLF) closed at a six-month high yesterday, and has risen 3.5 percent in the last week. That's the biggest gain for any of the 11 major...

Health Care Hammered as Investors Liquidate Safe Havens

Health Care Hammered as Investors Liquidate Safe Havens

Health care stocks got slammed yesterday amid an apparent rotation away from "safe havens." The SPDR Health Care ETF (XLV) dropped 2.05 percent to its lowest price since January 30. While not that might not sound huge, it was the biggest drop relative to the broader...

Some Key Funds May Be on the Precipice

Some Key Funds May Be on the Precipice

Volatility's on the rise this month, and three popular ETFs are trying to hang on. The Market Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH), S&P SPDR Financial ETF (XLF) and S&P SPDR Energy ETF (XLE) had all slammed down to apparent support levels earlier in the year. At...

A Tough Slog For Banks, With a Happy Ending

A Tough Slog For Banks, With a Happy Ending

There was a day when higher interest rates lifted financials. But not anymore. Selling in the sector has been intense, with 64 of the 67 members of the SPDR Financial ETF (XLF) down so far this week. Banks, insurers and asset managers have all taken a beating. (Don't...

Two sectors on breakout watch

Two sectors on breakout watch

This post is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered a trading recommendation. Two sector funds may be on breaking out as bullish sentiment returns to the stock market. The SPDR Materials ETF (XLB) and SPDR Healthcare ETF (XLV) spent the last...