Benchmarks ended the first trading session of the second quarter in the red on weak economic data. Both private payrolls and manufacturing data were weaker than anticipated. The S&P 500 closed below its 50-day moving average, with 7 out of 10 S&P 500 sectors ending in the red. The Dow also witnessed more than two-third of its 30 components ending […]
Benchmarks ended the last trading session of the week on a positive note after Fed Chair Janet Yellen said there was a possibility of a gradual hike in interest rates sometime this year. The Nasdaq was boosted by a possible deal between Intel and Altera. Gains in bio-tech stocks also helped the Nasdaq end in positive territory. However, benchmarks reported […]
I’m baaaack…Yep – back in the saddle after roughing it in the desert for a week. I fended off mountain lion attacks…lost a few bucks betting on March Madness during a detour to Vegas…and meditated on the markets while staring up at the stars.Stocks stabilized in my absence after wandering lower during that pesky early-March pullback. The major averages aren’t […]
No one likes the “B” word, but it’s worth asking whether we’re seeing one in large-cap biotech stocks right now.Source: ©iStock.com/AlexRathsAt first glance, it seems to be a legitimate question given how well the sector has performed in the past year. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (ETF) (NASDAQ:IBB) has gained nearly 70% since the low of mid-April 2014, and it […]
A pause in the dollar rally helped benchmarks start the week on a positive note. The U.S. dollar weakened ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee’s meeting that is scheduled this week. Rally in international markets also boosted investor sentiment. Separately, gains among bio-tech stocks boosted the Nasdaq. Meanwhile, discouraging reports on manufacturing and housing failed to dent investor confidence.For […]
Biotech stocks have been on a tear lately, with the SPDR S&P Biotech (ETF) (NYSEARCA:XBI) outrunning the S&P 500 about 45% to 10% over the past 10 months. And momentum still is on biotechs’ side, with 57% of the XBI’s components trading above their respective 50-day moving average. For perspective, the S&P 500 only boasts 41% on that front, and […]
Markets ended in the red for the second consecutive day, handing the Dow and S&P 500 their worst closing levels since Feb 19. Some opined there were no real panic in the markets, nonetheless the Nasdaq was dragged away from its 5K for the second day in a row. Among the day economic numbers, the private-sector employment gains in February […]
View photo.Biotechnology ETFs have leapt out of the gate in 2015 with another strong spurt of momentum that has catapulted them to the top of sector rankings. The unequivocal asset leader in this category is the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (ETF) (NASDAQ: IBB), which has more than $8 billion under management.IBB has gained more than 12 percent so far this […]
Benchmarks closed at record highs on Friday after higher oil prices boosted energy shares. While the S&P 500 closed at an all-time record high, the Dow ended above the 18K mark for the first time this year. The Nasdaq hit a 15-year high, boosted by gains in technology stocks. Friday’s gains helped benchmarks settle in positive territory for the second-straight […]
View photo.Biotech stocks have performed well in the recent bull market.Since January 1, 2008, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSE: XBI) has outperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), gaining 233 percent compared with just 41.3 percent gains in SPY.Analysts at Sterne Agee took a closer look at three active biotech companies in separate notes Friday morning.Molina Healthcare, […]
