Active broad-market exchange-traded funds at mid-day:
SPDR S&P 500 (
SPY
): -0.3%
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures TM (
VXX
): +0.9%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (
XLF
): -0.2%
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (
EEM
): -0.2%
iShares Russell 2000 Index (
IWM
): -0.4%
Broad Market Indicators
Broad-market exchange-traded funds, including SPY, IWM, IVV and
others, are lower. Actively traded PowerShares QQQ (QQQ) is down
0.6%.
U.S. stocks are lower, weighed down by growing concerns in
Europe as the debt crisis in the region rears its head once again.
In focus are Greece, with Greek officials, the European Union,
European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund coming to an
impasse over how to restructure Athens' debt; and Spain, with
protests over the government's austerity measures turning violent,
and the Spanish state of Catalonia pushing for independence.
Housing data reported earlier, although mixed, helped check some of
markets' losses.
Winners and Losers
Financial -
Select Financial Sector SPDRs (
XLF
) is down 0.3%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X shares (FAS) is
down 0.7%. Its bearish counterpart, FAZ, is up 0.7%.
Among financial stocks, Life Partners Holdings Inc. (LPHI) is
now up 160% after a Travis County District Judge ruled in favor of
the life insurance company, ending the Texas Attorney General's
suit against Life Partners, which had asserted that the 21-year-old
company's life settlement transactions were securities under Texas
law.
Technology -
Tech ETFs are lower as the tech sector underperforms other
sectors in md-day trade: Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK),
down 0.6%; iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF (IYW), off 0.6%;
iShares S&P North American Technology ETF (IGM), down 0.90%;
and iShares S&P North American Technology-Software Index (IGV),
down 1.1%.
Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) is
down 1% and Semiconductor Sector Index Fund (SOXX) is off 0.6%.
SPDR S&P International Technology Sector ETF (IPK) is
flat.
Energy -
Dow Jones U.S. Energy Fund (IYE) is off 0.6%; Energy Select
Sector SPDR (XLE) is down 0.6%.
Commodities -
Crude was down 2.12%; natural gas was up 2.35%. United States
Oil Fund (USO) is down 1.5%. United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
is up 2.6%.
Gold and silver for December delivery were lower, down 1.07% and
0.61% respectively. Among rare metal funds, SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)
is down 0.5%; iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is up 0.8%.
Healthcare -
Healthcare ETFs Health Care SPDR (XLV), down 0.3% from near year
highs; Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT), down 0.3%; and iShares Dow
Jones US Healthcare (IYH), down 0.3%, from near year highs. Biotech
ETF iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) is down 1.2%.
Power Play -
Consumer -
ETFs are mixed to higher, as the consumer staples sector is one
of the few posting gains in mid-day trading: Consumer Staples
Select Sector SPDR (XLP), up 0.28%, nearer year highs; iShares Dow
Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK), down 0.2%; and Vanguard Consumer
Staples ETF (VDC), up 0.29%, closer to year highs.
Retail ETFs are lower: SPDR S&P Retail (XRT), down 0.08%;
PowerShares Dynamic Retail (PMR), down 0.6%; and Market Vectors
Retail ETF (RTH), up 0.3%, reached a new year high of $44.94.