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Indexes and ETFs
Retail ETF Spirals Downward with Brick-and-Mortar on the Skids

Retail ETF Spirals Downward with Brick-and-Mortar on the Skids

A perfect storm of bearishness is sweeping retail stocks, making them one of the weakest links in a teetering market. The SPDR Retail ETF (XRT) has lost 6 percent in the week ending yesterday, and is mired in the midst of its longest losing streak since early October....

Utility ETF Soars as Hot Money Shifts to Safe Havens

Utility ETF Soars as Hot Money Shifts to Safe Havens

President Trump's trade war against China isn't hurting all stocks. Just look at the price action in a key safe haven. The SPDR Utilities ETF (XLU) is up 2.5 percent in the last week, while the broader S&P 500 is down almost 2 percent. Aside from real-estate...

Is Real Estate ETF a Stealth Technology Trade?

Is Real Estate ETF a Stealth Technology Trade?

Believe it or not, real-estate investment trusts (REITs) are leading the market this month. The SPDR Real Estate ETF (XLRE) is up 1.8 percent so far in May. That contrasts with a 2.4 percent drop for the broader S&P 500 over the same period. Even more surprising,...

Bitcoin Bulls Were Running as Fear Swept Equity Markets

Bitcoin Bulls Were Running as Fear Swept Equity Markets

Something bullish has taken place in cryptocurrency markets as stocks crashed on trade worries. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) climbed 11 percent last week and is up almost triple that amount so far this week. The leading crypto is not only in the midst of its best month since...

Rollercoaster Week for Stocks as Trump Renews the Trade War

Rollercoaster Week for Stocks as Trump Renews the Trade War

Stocks just had their most dramatic week of the year after President Trump renewed his trade war against China. The S&P 500 swung 112 points between its high and low, the biggest weekly range since markets were crashing in December. The overall decline of 2.2...

Solar ETF Shining as Rest of Market Dives Lower

Solar ETF Shining as Rest of Market Dives Lower

The S&P 500 had its worst day in over a month, but one forgotten corner of the market was shining. The Invesco Solar Energy ETF (TAN) rose 2.35 percent on Tuesday, bucking a drop of 1.65 percent for the broader S&P 500. TAN's gain of almost 4.2 percent in the...

Stocks Inch to New Highs as ‘Goldilocks’ Conditions Remain

Stocks Inch to New Highs as ‘Goldilocks’ Conditions Remain

Stocks remained near record highs last week, bolstered by a strong economy, decent earnings and low inflation. The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent between Friday, April 26 and Friday, May 3. It was the fifth gain in the last six weeks, with the index holding its ground...

Energy ETF Resumes its Losing Ways as Bears Return to Weakest Sector

Energy ETF Resumes its Losing Ways as Bears Return to Weakest Sector

The bears may be coming back to energy stocks as oil falters. The SPDR Energy ETF (XLE) fell 2 percent yesterday to its lowest close since March 8. It's also the worst-performing major sector fund in the last week, down almost 4 percent. Several negative factors are...

Another ‘Golden Cross’ May Be Coming Soon

Another ‘Golden Cross’ May Be Coming Soon

April began with a "golden cross" in the S&P 500. Early May could see a similar pattern in the Russell 2000. In case you don't know, a golden cross is when a chart's 50-day moving average rises above its 200-day MA. It's often viewed as a sign that momentum is...