Active broad-market exchange-traded funds at mid-day:
SPDR S&P 500 (
SPY
): -0.2%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (
XLF
): +0.1%, nearer to year highs
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (
EEM
): -0.22%
PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (
QQQ
): -0.2%
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures (
VXX
): +0.2%
Broad Market Indicators
Broad-market exchange-traded funds, including SPY, IWM, IVV and
others, are mixed. Actively traded PowerShares QQQ (
QQQ
) is down 0.2%.
U.S. stocks have turned lower as positive sentiment on the
upbeat employment data released in the pre-bell session fades.
Earlier, it was reported that the U.S. economy added 171,000 jobs
for October, more than economists had projected; but the
unemployment rate for the month rose 7.9%, in line with forecasts
and slightly up from the previous rate of 7.8% in September. With
presidential and Congressional elections near at hand, the
employment data and its implications about the health of the
economy have become political fodder, triggering jitters and making
investors more wary.
Winners and Losers
Financial -
Select Financial Sector SPDRs (
XLF
) has turned negative and is now down 0.1% from near year highs.
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X shares (FAS) is up 0.1%. Its
bearish counterpart, FAZ, is flat.
Among financial stocks, Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) are
down 8.56% after the company priced its previously announced
underwritten public offering of 35,000,000 shares of its common
stock. The offering is expected to close on or about November 7,
2012, subject to customary closing conditions.
Technology -
Tech ETFs are gapping lower: Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
(XLK), off 0.3%; iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF (IYW), down
0.5%; iShares S&P North American Technology ETF (IGM), down
0.2% and iShares S&P North American Technology-Software Index
(IGV), flat.
Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) is
down 1.84% and Semiconductor Sector Index Fund (SOXX) is down
0.8%.
SPDR S&P International Technology Sector ETF (IPK) is
flat.
In sector news, Rovi (ROVI) is up 10% after it reported in
Thursday's after hours session Q3 adjusted EPS of $0.50, excluding
special items, beating the Capital IQ consensus estimate of $0.38.
Revenues of $169.6 mln also exceeded the consensus of $161.12 mln.
The company expects FY12 EPS of $1.80 - $1.90 on revenues of $660
mln - $670 mln. Analysts are looking for EPS of $1.74 on revenues
of $661.62 mln.
Energy -
Dow Jones U.S. Energy Fund (IYE) is down 1% and Energy Select
Sector SPDR (XLE) is down 1%.
In sector news, Chevron (CVX) is down 2.5% following the
company's Q3 earnings report. CVX posted Q3 earnings of $2.69 per
share, versus the Capital IQ consensus of $2.89. Revenues were
$55.66 bln, versus the analyst estimate of $57.04 bln. In the
prior-year period, EPS was $3.92 while revenues were $61 bln.
Commodities -
Crude was down 2.06%; likewise, natural gas was down 2.04%.
United States Oil Fund (USO) is down 1.6%. United States Natural
Gas Fund (UNG) is down 3.3%.
Gold was down 1.92%; silver was down 3.23c%. Among rare metal
funds, SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) is down 2.2%; iShares Silver Trust
(SLV) is down 4.1%.
Healthcare -
Healthcare ETFs are higher: Health Care SPDR (XLV), up 0.10%;
Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT), up 0.1%; and iShares Dow Jones US
Healthcare (IYH), up 0.04%. Biotech ETF iShares NASDAQ
Biotechnology Index (IBB) is down 1.6%.
Power Play -
Consumer -
Consumer ETFs are mostly higher: Consumer Staples Select Sector
SPDR (XLP), up 0.1%; iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK), now
up 0.2%; and Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC), up 0.1%.
Retail ETFs are mixed: SPDR S&P Retail (XRT), down 0.4%;
PowerShares Dynamic Retail (PMR), down 0.04%; and Market Vectors
Retail ETF (RTH), up 0.3%, with a new year high of $45.