While I was away from my desk, the Economic Modern Family stayed busy.  As of today, on the weekly charts, only Sister Semiconductors SMH and Big Brother Biotechnology IBB seem to be as optimistic as the S&P 500, Dow, and NASDAQ 100.  While SMH (Semiconductors) makes a new all-time high, Biotechnology IBB, while doing well, remains under the peak high in 2021.  Plus, Granny Retail XRT and Regional Banks KRE are two of the weakest links in the Family.  Granddad Russell 2000 IWM, sits just below the all-time high price established 2 weeks ago.  All

The year 2018 marked a seismic shift when Wall Street kicked social media giants like Meta and Google out of the technology sector into a brand-new category called "Communication Services." This wasn't just accounting semantics—it created an entirely new investment opportunity that active traders have been capitalizing on ever since. The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) emerged from this reshuffling, giving traders direct access to streaming platforms, social networks, telecom companies, and digital

Two weeks ago, on Friday, October 10th, the S&P 500 (SPY) and Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) abruptly dropped from their all-time highs with a vengeance that is not normal. For veteran traders, this could have easily looked like the beginning of something big - and bearish. However, the very next day, it began a constructively bullish two-week pattern that led to last Friday’s breakout to new highs. The frustrated bearish investors refrain, “This market just won’t

In this, my last Daily until I return from a trip to NY (see media schedule below), India and the India Country Fund INDA, has captured my attention.  Here are four reasons we have eyes here.  Rare Earth Minerals  Gold accumulation  Focus on AI  Technical Analysis  Rare Earth Minerals.   India holds a substantial amount of reserves, along with being a significant producer.   India falls 5th in mineral reserves although with a relatively big gap of

Most people think you need six figures and property management headaches for real estate wealth. What if you could own Manhattan office towers and California shopping centers for the price of a nice dinner? Welcome to real estate ETFs. The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) puts institutional-quality real estate investing in your trading account, offering a way to capitalize on real estate trends without direct ownership hassles. XLRE ETF Structure and Real Estate

Last Monday, the week began with a strong rebound from the prior Friday’s significant selloff, but Tuesday found itself testing the prior week’s lows within the first 30 minutes of trading. Fortunately, Tuesday’s AM weakness set up a reversal that led to a rebound that cemented the week’s low. The rebound continued to new weekly highs on Wednesday, but the strength quickly faded and tested the resolve of bullish traders as it slid to be

I read today that a lot of the future of higher gold prices rests on whether China can seduce other nations to store gold in China’s bonded warehouses.  Furthermore, China wants nations to trade gold on the Shanghai Exchange.  China has been accumulating gold for a decade.  Today, Brazil began buying gold for the first time since 2021.  Moreover, there has been a lot of buzz about debasement, where gold gains favor over the dollar

When the global economy sneezes, the materials sector catches a cold first. Materials companies sit at the foundation of everything we build and consume, making the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) one of the most economically sensitive ETFs—a powerful tool for traders who read economic tea leaves. XLB offers clear cyclical patterns, strong technical signals, and volatility that creates real profit opportunities when timed correctly. XLB ETF Overview: Understanding the Materials Sector Dynamics The

If this is another TACO tariff power play, it’s a particularly spicy one. On the surface, Friday’s market selloff could be attributed to another 100% tariff threat. Or it could be a result of the market finally finding the straw that breaks the bulls’ back as the market focuses on data like the chart below, which does NOT factor in Friday’s new 100% increases on Chinese imports: Approximately 60% of government employees are not receiving

  GRANNY RETAIL STUMBLES BELOW SUPPORT  Granny Retail (XRT) just lost her grip on the 50-day moving average, a key short-term support level that often marks the line between healthy pullbacks and trend reversals.  This isn’t just a technical trip — it’s a sentiment signal that the American consumer, long the backbone of this market, may be running low on gas.  XRT closed decisively below its 50-DMA after multiple failed attempts to hold above it

Warren Buffett buys companies so simple that even an idiot could run them. The same logic applies to consumer staples—essential products that survive recessions and crashes. The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) packages this defensive power into a tradeable instrument. For active traders, XLP is a strategic tool for portfolio hedging, sector rotation, and risk management that can enhance returns while reducing overall volatility. Understanding XLP ETF: Consumer Staples Sector Fundamentals The Consumer

Confusion Rewards Bulls, Not Bears As we head into the 4th quarter of what has been a year marked by historical uncertainty. The chart below shows one measure of it based on a survey of small businesses. There isn’t any sign that the pace of potentially confusing news flow will slow down. Hopefully, the trend of declining uncertainty that occurred in the chart above during the beginning of the last Trump administration will repeat. This

The trifecta of inflation” usually refers to the three core drivers that push inflation higher at the same time, creating a stronger and often stickier inflationary environment  According to Economists, the trifecta they refer to are  Demand-Pull Inflation – Prices rise because demand outpaces supply (booming economy, stimulus, strong consumer spending).  Cost-Push Inflation – Prices rise as production costs increase (energy, commodities, wages, tariffs, supply shocks).  Built-In / Wage-Price Inflation – A self-reinforcing cycle where

When the economy thrives, people splurge on cars, clothes, and vacations. When times get tough, they cut back on everything except basics. This behavior pattern creates predictable trading opportunities through the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY). XLY offers traders a direct way to capitalize on consumer spending fluctuations across retail, entertainment, and luxury sectors, providing systematic entry and exit points for those who understand economic indicators and sentiment shifts. XLY ETF Trading Characteristics

If you’re following the play-by-play news headlines as they relate to the stock market you’ve had a lot to digest in the last week and a half. With only two days left in the 3rd quarter it appears that the bulls will deliver another strong quarterly report card despite some ominous headlines like more 100% tariff announcements and a government shutdown all but scheduled for October first. Why isn’t this market selling off? Or did