Renee Blakely
Disclosure: I am in full compliance with all ethics and other policies for Market Realist research analysts. I am not invested in securities that I cover on Market Realist.
More From Renee Blakely
Interest Rate Woes Continue to Haunt the US Stock Market
Now that the Fed’s meeting is over, the timing of the rate hike has made investors anxious. The delay in the rate hike is a sign of the health of the domestic economy.
Travis Perkins Rebounded, Led EWU by 5.09%
Travis Perkins was at the top of the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF on October 23, 2015, as analysts showed positivity toward the construction industry.
Commodity Prices Soared Due to the Strong Stock Markets
The stock markets continued their rally on October 5. The markets rebounded when the rate hike uncertainty settled down and boosted the commodity prices.
UK Stock Market Stymies Awaiting a US Rate Hike in September
September 4 saw rises in none of the 109 constituent stocks of the EWU. The Fed’s rate-hike indecision impacted UK investors.
UK Services PMI, Draghi’s Reassurance Lifted EWU by 0.06%
Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, reaffirmed the ECB’s plan to provide a fresh monetary stimulus in December to boost inflation in the region if needed.
EWU Fell 0.23% and the UK’s Consumer Confidence Fell
The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) fell by 0.23% on October 30. The United Kingdom’s consumer confidence index was released for October.
First Solar Clinches Top SPY Position
First Solar (FSLR) rose 5.7% yesterday after 195 nations attending the Paris climate change conference reached a historic agreement to cut emissions to address climate change.
Why Is the United Kingdom’s Stock Market Buoyant?
The iShares MSCI United Kingdom (EWU) rose 1.1% on Thursday, October 8. On Thursday, 82 stocks rose out of EWU’s 109 constituent stocks.
Huntington Bancshares Landed at the Bottom of SPY on Merger Deal
Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) plunged 8.5% on Tuesday, January 26, after the bank announced its plan to acquire FirstMerit (FMER) in a deal worth $3.4 billion.
Uptrend Continues in Mining Stocks
The uptrend in mining stocks continued on October 2, 2015, as 85 of 109 stocks in the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF returned positive gains on the day.
Chinese Economic Report Pressures the UK Market on September 14
September 14 was a gloomy day for the UK stock market as well, as the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) fell by 1.12%.
Tyco International to Tie Up with Johnson Controls
Tyco International (TYC) and Johnson Controls (JCI) revealed on Monday, January 25, 2016, that they are going to merge. The news raised TYC stocks that day, while JCI fell 3.9%.
Basic Material Stocks Top UK Stock Market, EWU Surges 2.31%
The UK private sector pay rose 4.4%, while the public sector rose 0.6%. This is anticipated to boost the consumer demand in the country.
China’s Contracting Manufacturing Activity Pressures UK Stocks
With the economic slowdown, a reduction in imports—especially oil—by China has become inevitable, affecting many of its trading partner countries. Consequently, trades of these countries with the UK may be affected.
Randgold and Fresnillo Rebound Due to the Rise in Gold
Precious metals rose on September 24. The rise benefited Randgold Resources (RRS) and Fresnillo (FRES). They were among EWU’s top three performers.
SPY Falls 2.51% on Global Uncertainty
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) fell by 2.51% on Monday, September 28, 2015, while the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF (SPUU) fell by 4.95%.
Glencore Rises and Chinese Consumer Sentiment Reaches a Year High
Chinese consumer sentiment rose to its highest in over a year in September 2015. The reading increased by 1.5% to 118.2 in September from August.
UK Stock Market Continues its Downward Momentum as EWU Lost 1.75%
On September 18, the UK stock market experienced a fall in consumer staples. The financial sector also fell steeply.
Aberdeen Asset Management Leads While UK Stock Market Slides
Aberdeen Asset Management, the fund management group, was among the few finance stocks to make it to the positive territory of returns on October 26.
Tullow Oil Leads EWU by 1.30%, EWU Down by 0.52%
Although oil prices rose across the US and the UK markets, along with the US oil inventory’s fall—which greatly benefited the energy sector—EWU dipped on August 31.
What Were SPY’s Top Stocks?
The stocks at the top of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) on January 7, 2016, were GAP (GPS), EQT (EQT), and Constellation Brands (STZ).
Consumer Stocks and the Technology Sector See Huge Gains
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) rose 1.0% and 0.5%, respectively, in yesterday’s trade.
SPY Heavily Weighed Down by the Energy and Materials Sectors
All the component sectors except utilities in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) fell in yesterday’s trade. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) fell 2.5%.
Fall in UK Inflation Could Boost Consumer Spending
The fall in the United Kingdom’s inflation back to zero could boost consumer spending, especially in the consumer discretionary sector.
Chipotle’s Plan to Woo Back Customers Propelled It to Top of Spy
Stocks at the top of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) on January 13 were Southwestern Energy (SWN), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), and Range Resources (RRC).
US Market Buoyant with Rise in Consumer Confidence
US consumer confidence rose unexpectedly for the month of September. The index rose to 103 in September from 101.3 in August.
EWU Rises as Bank of England Holds Firm on Interest Rates
The Bank of England’s MPC voted to hold interest rates at 0.5%, which strengthened the pound sterling against the euro and dollar. The EWU rose by 0.89%.
Will Oil Glut Continue in 2016 with OPEC’s Production Policy?
Some member countries of OPEC—namely, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait—support the policy to keep oil output high in order retain market share against non-OPEC producers.
SABMiller Rises 1.30% on Proposed Takeover Bid by Anheuser-Busch
SABMiller (SAB) gained 1.30% and topped the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) on September 28.
Upbeat Earnings from Johnson & Johnson and 3M Boosted SPY
3M stock (MMM) jumped 5.2% after the company’s quarterly report beat analysts’ estimates.
Utilities and the IT Sector Shine on August 17
On August 17 the industrial sector, healthcare sector, IT (information technology) sector, and consumer discretionary sector showed positive returns.
Avon Leads SPY, Gains 7.72% on August 28
The stocks at the bottom of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) on August 28 were GameStop, Autodesk, and Mylan NV. These companies yielded -8.03%, -4.96%, and -2.18%, respectively.
Financial Services Take EWU Down
On August 20, the bottom four stocks of the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) were ICAP (IAP), Prudential Financial (PRU), Hargreaves Lansdown (HRGLF), and Carnival (CUK).
UK Stock Market Perturbed by Global Concerns
The UK stock market is being affected by global concerns about sustainability, financial recovery, global consumption, commodities, and basic materials.
Valeant and Pfizer Kept Healthcare in the Limelight
In November, Pfizer (PFE) and Allergan (AGN) confirmed their merger deal to form the world’s biggest drug company by sales. This was the largest deal of 2015.
How Has the Russian Stock Market Changed?
The Russian stock market is upbeat, which adds to the ruble’s strength.
EWU Managed Slight Gains following the Rise in Oil Prices
EWU gained 0.06% on November 24, 2015, boosted by the rally in energy stocks that followed tension in the Middle East and concerns of terrorism threats.
EWU Posted 0.41% Gain, Rising Core Inflation Improved the Outlook
Out of the 109 constituent stocks of the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU), 99 stocks advanced on November 17.
UK Stock Market Upbeat as EWU Closes with a Gain of 2.31%
The UK stock market cheered owing to positive rallies across the Asian and US stock markets. The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) rose by 2.31%.
Sharp Fall in Crude Oil Pulled UK Inflation Down to 0
The ONS stated on Tuesday, September 15, that the annual inflation rate fell back to zero in August. The lower fuel prices are one of the reasons behind it.
Component Sectors of SPY Continued Their Upward Trend
The past week saw one of the worst market performances in the US since the 2008 recession.
How the Tech Sector and Downbeat Earnings Hobbled SPY
Total System Services landed at the bottom of SPY after it reported earnings of $0.57 per share, compared to the company’s estimated EPS of $0.60.
SPY Slid by 1.1% on Fed’s Decision to Keep Interest Rate Unchanged
The SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X both fell by 1.1% and 3.3%, respectively, on January 27, after the Fed’s decision not to hike.
Rebound in Oil Prices Pushed SPY Up 1.4%
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) bounced back by 1.4% and 4.1%, respectively, on Tuesday, January 26.
Verizon Communications Saw Gains on Upbeat Earnings
Verizon Communications’ revenue grew 3.2% in its latest quarter, amounting to $34.3 billion.
The Energy Sector Led SPY with a Sharp 3.1% Gain
Energy sector stocks also made it to the top three of the SPY. Southwestern Energy (SWN), CONSOL Energy (CNX), Kinder Morgan (KMI), and Range Resources (RRC) skyrocketed.
SPY Rose 0.6% as Oil Prices Changed Direction
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) marched upwards on Thursday, January 21, 2016, registering 0.6% and 1.2% gains, respectively.
All of SPY’s Sectors Ended in the Red as Oil Struggles Persisted
All the sectors of the SPY turned red on the day. Stocks belonging to the consumer discretionary sector, the technology sector, and the energy sector saw major drops.
SPY Down 2.5% as Brent Fell below $30 for First Time in a Decade
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) retreated on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, after a short lift that lasted for two days.
US Markets Were Turbulent, SPY’s Major Sectors Fell by 2.4%
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) fell by 2.4% and 7.1%, respectively, on Thursday, January 7, 2016.
Gold Soared and GDX Rose by 4.4%, Oil Reached New Lows
Amid rising volatility, investors preferred safe havens. Gold rose by 1.4% and settled at $1,103.90 per ounce. The prices of the Treasury bonds rose by 0.2%.
Oil Has Reason to Rebound as OPEC Tensions Rise
Saudi Arabia and Iran are the two major oil-producing countries of OPEC. Tensions between them have escalated after Saudi Arabia’s mass execution on Saturday, January 2, 2016.
Freeport-McMoran Is Biggest Loser for Moving Averages, Returns
Freeport-McMoRan’s (FCX) trailing one-year return is the lowest at -70.7%. The stock had a steep fall on December 28, after its executive chairman stepped down.
The SPY ETF Stumbled Due to the Rout of Oil Prices
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF and the Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X ETF stalled their rally on Wednesday, December 30, with falls of 0.7% and 2.1%, respectively.
Healthcare Stock Mallinckrodt Emerged as One of the Top Stocks
The stocks at the top of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF on December 30, 2015, were Allegheny Technologies (ATI), Mallinckrodt (MNK), and Tesoro Corporation (TSO).
The Energy and Materials Sectors Landed at the Bottom of SPY
Let’s disucss the changes in the component sectors of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). All sectors turned red on Wednesday after oil prices took a nosedive.
Technology Sector Rallied on Advances in Amazon and Qualcomm
Qualcomm surged 2.6% on December 29 after the company announced that it had signed a 3G and 4G Chinese patent license agreement with Beijing Tianyu Communication Equipment company.
McGraw Hill Financial Surged 2.6% as Financial Services Rebounded
McGraw Hill Financial (MHFI) traded at $100, which was above its moving average values.
Vertex Up 3.2% as Healthcare Sector Continued to Lure Investors
XLV went up 1.2% on Tuesday, December 29. Its top stocks included Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), St Jude Medical (STJ), Cerner (CERN), and Biogen (BIIB).
Home Price Index Sent Real Estate Sector ahead of SPY
All the component sectors of the SPY marched into green territory as the market turned bullish on economic data and the oil price rebound.
SPY Rose 1.1% on Oil Price Rebound and Upbeat Consumer Confidence
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) jumped 1.1% and 3.3%, respectively, on Tuesday, December 29.
Examining the SPY ETF and how US Stocks Performed in 2015
As we enter 2016, let’s review how Wall Street and US stocks, represented here by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), responded to global events throughout 2015.
Slight Rise in Oil Prices Helped SPY Rise for the Second Day
SPY and SPXL continued to rise for the second consecutive day as oil prices displayed some stability on Tuesday, December 22. USO rose by 1.0%.
Moving Average Analysis of the Industrial Sector
The stocks hardly traded at prices that crossed their moving average values. The only exception was Fastenal. It traded at $40.08.
Moving Average Analysis of the Consumer Staples Sector
The consumer staples sector outperformed the market. On Monday, December 21, 2015, the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) rose 1.1%.
Technology and Healthcare Sectors Advanced as Stocks Rebounded
The technology sector, represented by the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF, rose by 1.0% on December 21 as the stocks of Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet rose.
The SPY ETF Rose 0.8% despite a Continued Fall in Oil Prices
On Monday, December 21, 2015, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) rose by 0.8% and 2.8%, respectively.
Consumer Staples Sector Stands Out
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) led the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) with a gain of 1.0% in yesterday’s trade.
US Stocks Fall as Oil Prices Plunge Again
US stocks represented by SPY and SPXL fell in yesterday’s trade. SPY and SPXL fell 1.5% and 4.4%, respectively.
Crude Inventories Pull Energy Sector Down, Utilities Soar
The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF fell 0.7% on December 16 due to a drop in crude oil prices following a heavy buildup in crude oil inventories.
The Fed’s Long-Awaited Decision to Raise Rates Sent SPY Soaring
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) rose 1.5% on December 16, 2015, as Federal Reserve members concluded their two-day meeting about the interest rate direction.
Rate Hike Expectations Propelled Financial Stocks Higher
Many banks and financial service providers’ stocks rose on December 15. US investors picked the stocks with the expectation of the zero interest rate policy.
SPY Soared High through All of the Component Sectors
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) rose by 1.1% and 3%, respectively, on Tuesday, December 15, 2015.
US Stocks Follow Oil’s Rebound, SPY Rises 0.51%
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull and Bear 3X Shares ETF (SPXL) rose 0.51% and 1.7%, respectively, in yesterday’s trade.
Moving Average Analysis of SPY’s Utilities Sector
The average ETF weight of the electric utilities stocks in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 0.08%. Their beta value is less than 1, and thus they’re less volatile.
Avon Products Blasts off on December 4, but NGR Energy Crashes and Burns
The stock price target of Avon Products was raised from $4.67 to $6 by Citigroup analysts, who also gave the stock a “Buy” rating.
Oil and Gas Pipeline Kinder Morgan Tailspins on December 4
The West Texas Intermediate fell by 2.7%, settling at $39.97 per barrel on December 4. The plunge in oil left the energy sector with a yield of -0.6%.
Financial Sector Catches a Rate Hike Tailwind on December 4
The financial sector gained big on December 4 as the prospects of a rate hike increased following the day’s jobs report.
Gung-Ho US Employment Scene Catapults SPY on December 4
On December 4, SPY SPXL surged by 1.95% and 5.79%, respectively. The day was very important because it saw the release of the crucial US employment report.
Fed Chair’s Hawkish Tone on Rate-Hike Led SPY Lower
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) fell 1.02% and 3.2%, respectively, on Wednesday, December 2, 2015.
Yahoo! Hogged the Limelight as it Made Its Way in SPY
On Wednesday, December 2, 2015, the stocks at the top of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) were Avon Products (AVP), Yahoo! (YHOO), and Qualcomm (QCOM).
Utility Was the Second Biggest Drag on SPY as NRG Energy Crashed
The six-month beta of the stocks of AES, PPL, Public Service Enterprise, and Entergy was less than one. Meanwhile, NRG Energy’s six-month beta was around one.
Utility Sector Falls, Consumer Staples and Energy Sectors Rise
The utility sector, represented by the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), fell by 0.9% on November 23.
SPY, Dollar Up with Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index’s Advance
On November 20, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) rebounded with a 0.36% gain. Better-than-expected corporate earnings results, especially from the retail sector, lifted the market.
SPY’s Rally Stalled at 0.09% Fall despite Upbeat Economic Data
November 19 saw the release of the Philadelphia Fed’s Business Outlook Survey for November 2015. Government bonds rose in the wake of the economic data.
J.M. Smucker Led the SPY ETF with a 7.0% Gain
J.M. Smucker posted EPS of $1.62, beating the consensus estimate of $1.52. It also reported net sales of ~$2.1 billion, in line with the market expectation.
Allergan and Pfizer: The Largest Takeover in the Drug Industry?
Pfizer fell 3.1% on November 20 as the US Treasury Department planned to dissuade companies from deals that would shift their headquarters abroad.
SPY Heavy as UnitedHealth Group Forewarned Profit
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF tumbled -1.7% on November 19 after UnitedHealth Group lowered its profit expectations for 2015 and cut its earnings forecast.
JPM and BAC Rose Due to the Likelihood of a Rate Hike
The stocks of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), and Goldman Sachs (GS) rose 2.0%, 2.4%, 2.8%, and 1.6%, respectively.
Retailers Rebounded on November 17, Led by Walmart and Home Depot
Walmart’s (WMT) stock has received five “buy,” 24 “hold,” and two “sell” recommendations. Standard & Poor’s rated WMT stock as “AA” with a “stable” outlook.
The Industrial Production Report Pressured the Utility Sector
The Fed’s monthly index on Industrial Production for October 2015 noted that industrial production missed expectations. It fell by 0.2% in October due to weakness in the utilities and mining sectors.
US Equities Ended Slightly Lower amid Terror Alarm in Germany
On November 17, US equities, which had traded in positive territory in early sessions, ended down after the news of suspected terrorist activity in Germany broke.
Sinking Oil Prices Rattled Stock Markets and Russia’s GDP Growth
Because of the supply glut in oil, prices fell steeply, affecting energy stocks and Russia’s GDP growth rate. Oil is currently priced at ~$42 per barrel.
Oil Price Fell and Rattled the Energy Sector, SPY Ended Lower
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and the Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) fell by 0.39% and 1.2%, respectively, on Wednesday, November 11.
Mixed Economic Review Ended the Stock Market’s Gains in October
The Chicago PMI was 56.2 for October 2015. It beat the consensus reading of 49.2. This figure gives a mixed review of the US economy.
Global Growth Forecast Weighed Down SPY on Monday, November 9
the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (or OECD) has lowered its forecast for global growth to 2.9% in 2015, and to 3.3% for 2016.
SPY Dipped on Yellen’s Hawkish Policy Comments on November 4
The stock market’s two-day rally stalled on November 4 after Janet Yellen, the Federal Reserve chair, commented about a possible rate hike in December 2015.
Visa on Its Way to Acquire Its European Twin, Visa Europe
Visa (V) dropped on the day after the company reported its 3Q15 earnings, which missed analysts’ expectations. The company’s earnings per share came in at $0.62 per share, with revenues of $3.57 billion.
China’s November 2015 PMI Pressured Oil Prices, US Market Bullish
US investors seemed to take the weak Chinese manufacturing data released by Caixin in stride on November 2. China’s PMI rose from September’s reading of 47.2 to 48.3 for October 2015.
SPY Component Sectors Ended in Positive Territory to Start November
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) rose 1.18% on November 2. The day turned out to be bright for US equities in the wake of the release of some important economic indicators.
