Active broad-market exchange-traded funds at mid-day:
SPDR S&P 500 (
SPY
): -0.7%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (
XLF
): -0.8%, still near year high
PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (
QQQ
): +0.2%
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (
EEM
): +0.5%
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures (
VXX
): +2.5%
Broad Market Indicators
Broad-market exchange-traded funds, including SPY, IWM, IVV and
others, are mixed. Actively traded PowerShares QQQ (
QQQ
) is up 0.2%.
U.S. stocks are mixed, after logging mild gains in the
pre-market session. Markets looking to earnings for direction, as
there is no economic data scheduled for release today. Corporate
earnings this season so far have also been mixed. However, upcoming
results from Yahoo (YHOO) and Texas Instruments (TXN), due out in
the after hours, could give stocks much needed footing. Wall Street
is also expected to keep an eye on the upcoming third and final
presidential debate scheduled tonight.
Financial -
Select Financial Sector SPDRs (
XLF
) is down near 1% and has dipped under $16, but is still near year
highs. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X shares (FAS) is down 2%.
Its bearish counterpart, FAZ, is up 2%.
Among financial stocks, SunTrust Banks (STI) is down 3% after
reporting third quarter 2012 net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.98
per share, compared to consensus estimate of $1.84 per share. The
number looks to be a beat, but it's unclear if it is comparable.
Revenues came in at $3.8 billion, which is above the $3 billion
analysts estimate. In the same period last year, net income was
$215 million, or $0.39 per share, on revenues of $2.2 billion.
Technology -
Tech ETFs are mixed: Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK),
now slightly lower; iShares Dow Jones US Technology ETF (IYW), up
0.15%; iShares S&P North American Technology ETF (IGM), down
0.35%; and iShares S&P North American Technology-Software Index
(IGV), down 0.7%.
Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) is
now down 0.3% and near its year low of $40.30; Semiconductor Sector
Index Fund (SOXX) is now down 0.1%. SPDR S&P International
Technology Sector ETF (IPK) is flat.
Energy -
Dow Jones U.S. Energy Fund (IYE) is down 1.5%; Energy Select
Sector SPDR (XLE) is down 1%.
In sector news, Peabody Energy (BTU) is up near 10% after the
company earlier reported Q3 2012 revenues of $2.06 billion, and
adjusted diluted EPS of $0.51. The results beat analyst estimates,
which called for revenues of $1.97 billion, EPS of $0.34.
Commodities -
Crude was down 0.72%; likewise, natural gas was down 1.75%.
United States Oil Fund (USO) is down 1.3%. United States Natural
Gas Fund (UNG) is down 3.6%.
Gold and silver were higher, up 0.28% and 0.9%, respectively.
Among rare metal funds, SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) is up 0.2%; iShares
Silver Trust (SLV) is up 0.6%.
Consumer -
Consumer ETFs are lower in mid-day actions: Consumer Staples
Select Sector SPDR (XLP), off 0.4%; iShares Dow Jones US Consumer
Goods (IYK), down 0.16% and Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC),
down 0.6%.
Retail ETFs are also weaker: SPDR S&P Retail (XRT), down
0.8%; PowerShares Dynamic Retail (PMR), down 1.1%; and Market
Vectors Retail ETF (RTH), now down 0.8% having earlier touched a
new year high of $45.03.
Power Play -
Healthcare -
Healthcare ETFs are weaker: Health Care SPDR (XLV), down 0.4%;
Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT), down 0.5%; and iShares Dow Jones US
Healthcare (IYH), off 0.5%. Biotech ETF iShares NASDAQ
Biotechnology Index (IBB) is down 1%.