Referenced Stocks

ETF Mid-Day Update: Markets Mostly Lower After Disappointing Results From Apple, Amazon.com

By Midnight Trader October 26, 2012, 12:58:51 PM EDT

Active broad-market exchange-traded funds at mid-day:

SPDR S&P 500 ( SPY ): -0.37%

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ( EEM ): -0.87%

Financial Select Sector SPDR ( XLF ): -0.69%

PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 ( QQQ ): -0.32%

iShares Russell 2000 Index ( IWN ): -0.82%

Stocks are modestly lower today following disappointing earnings from Dow and Nasdaq bellwethers Apple (AAPL) and Amazon.com (AMZN). Helping U.S. equity markets fend off a bigger downdraft was the U.S. government report that Q3 GDP weighed in at 2.0%, topping the Dow Jones compiled analyst forecast of 1.8%.

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment reading weighed in with a final 82.6 reading this month, its highest level since September 2007. Economists had projected an 83 reading following a preliminary October reading of 83.1, according to the median forecast of 60 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Winners and Losers

Financial -

Among financial ETFs, Financial Select Sector SPDRs are down nearly 1%; Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) are down 2.1%; Its bearish counterpart, the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares are up 2%.

In sector news, shares of Federated Investors (FII) are up about 5.5% today after the company reported Q3 earnings of $0.54, beating the Capital IQ consensus estimate of $0.41 a share. Revenues of $238.5 million, however, missed the consensus by $3.1 million.

Technology -

Among tech ETFs, the iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF (IYW) is down 0.43%; the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is down 0.35%; the iShares S&P North American Tech-Software Index (IGM) is down 0.2%; and the iShares S&P North American Tech-Software ETF (IGV) is down 0.78%.

Among chip-maker ETFs, the SPDR S&P Semiconductor fund (XSD) is up 0.88% while the iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector fund (SOXX) has turned slightly positive. The SPDR S&P International Technology Sector ETF is down 1.82%.

In sector news, Web.com Group (WWWW) is down +10% after beating expectations by $0.02 with Q3 earnings of $0.41 a share. Revenues climbed 167.1% to $124.2 million, trailing estimates by $2.47 million.

Energy -

Energy ETFs are lower today, with the Dow Jones U.S. Energy Fund (IYE) down 0.17% while the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) is down 0.13%.

In energy sector news, Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. (CRZO) is ahead nearly 4% with the company's stock slated to replace Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) in the S&P SmallCap 600 index after the close of trading on Monday, Oct. 29.

Commodities -

Crude oil for December delivery is down 0.35% while November natural gas is down 1.46%. Among energy ETFs, the U.S. Oil Fund (USO) is down 0.47% and the U.S. Natural Gas fund (UNG) is down 0.81%.

December gold is up 0.15% while December silver is up 0.46%. Among precious-metal funds, the SPDR Gold Shares Trust (GLD) is flat and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) has turned slightly down.

Healthcare -

Healthcare ETFs are mostly lower. The Healthcare SPDR ETF (XLV) is down 0.52%; the Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) is down 0.88%; the iShares Dow Jones US Healthcare fund (IYH) is down 0.59%; and the Biotech ETF iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) is down 1.25%.

In sector news, Varian Medical Systems Inc. (VAR) is up 15% after reporting Q4 earnings of $1.08 per share, $0.05 better than the Capital IQ consensus. Revenues rose 5.1% to $756.1 million, also beating estimates by $8.44 million.

Consumer -

Consumer ETFs are lower today. The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) is down 0.42%; the iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) is down 0.73%; and the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) is down 0.5%.

Among retail ETFs, the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) is down 0.6%; the PowerShares Dynamic Retail fund (PMR) is down 0.24%; and the Market Vectors Retail ETF (RTH) is down 0.38%.

In sector news, Expedia (EXPE) is up more than 11% and closer to year highs after the online-reservation company reported Q3 earning of $1.32 a share, up from $1.28 last year and beating estimates by $0.06. Revenue rose 16.6% year over year to $1.19 billion, also beating estimates by $20 million.




The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.


This article appears in: Investing, Commodities

Referenced Stocks: EEM, IWN, QQQ, SPY, XLF



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