XRT SPDR S&P Retail

Below the surface of today’s positive price action, the ICSC Chain Store Sales index hit a new high for the year. The July 4 weekend saw healthy consumer demand, and is propelling retail shares to new highs basis the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT).

The strength in the retail sector has come despite a material slowdown in refinance activity in recent weeks. The bid in the retail sector is complemented by the banking sector where the SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) is at new highs, and overcoming a few downgrades and talk of higher leverage ratios for large institutions. 

A positive factor for the overall market rests in the strength of the bank and consumer sectors.   Nothing is absolute, but a market seeing strength in banks and retailers should support the confidence of buyers.   

 

 

Given the strength of retail names and signs the consumer is healthy, it may be worth checking out a few Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) retailers like Wet Seal (WTSL) Dillard’s (DDS), or Bon Ton Stores (BONT).

What do you think:  Will the banks and the retailers lead the S&P 500 to new highs?

 

 
BON-TON STORES (BONT): Get Free Report
 
DILLARDS INC-A (DDS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
SPDR-KBW BANK (KBE): ETF Research Reports
 
WET SEAL INC -A (WTSL): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
SPDR-SP RET ETF (XRT): ETF Research Reports
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research