With Rates on the Rise, Lean Into the Financials Sector
Of all the macroeconomic headlines that occurred this week, none were likely quite as impactful as the Fed's decision to raise interest rates. Key Takeaways: The Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates, creating a potentially more challenging environment for many equity and fixed income approaches.
XLF: Why Fund Managers Loaded Up On Financial Stocks In Q2
Fund managers rotated out of tech and into financials in Q2 2026, despite XLF's middling year-to-date performance. Rising interest rates favored banks and insurers, while REITs and tech stocks faced net selling due to rate sensitivity and AI trade volatility. International financials, especially emerging market banks and FinTechs like Nu Holdings and Credicorp, saw strong fund inflows for their growth and valuation in Q2.
Sector ETFs Post Record $25B Inflow as Tech Leads
U.S.-listed sector ETFs pulled in a record $25 billion in July, according to a report from State Street Investment Management. Investors used a sharp technology selloff to load up on artificial intelligence-related stocks at lower prices.
Should You Invest in the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF)?
Launched on December 16, 1998, the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Financials - Broad segment of the equity market.
Is This the Most Undervalued Sector ETF on the Market?
Artificial intelligence has dominated the stock market over the past several years, drawing investors' attention and capital toward a handful of mega-cap technology companies.
Time to Upgrade Financials? The Bull Case for Banks
The 2026 war with Iran has created an array of geopolitical consequences — some of which have directly impacted investor portfolios. Foremost among these is weakening growth expectations, which have proved to be particularly dangerous to portfolios.
XLF: Why I Am Downgrading Large Financial Stocks Again
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF is downgraded to Sell after a recent rally and ongoing underperformance versus the S&P 500. XLF remains down 2.6% in 2026, lagging peers, with technical gaps below and resistance at $54–56, raising caution on further upside. My expected return for XLF is -2.7%, reflecting bearish market probabilities, valuation concerns, and a preference for cash or select dividend ETFs.
Should You Invest in the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF)?
If you're interested in broad exposure to the Financials - Broad segment of the equity market, look no further than the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on December 16, 1998.
How Will Bank ETFs Perform in Light of Q1 Earnings?
Big banks will start releasing their quarterly numbers from next week. Let's delve into the earnings potential of the big six banking companies, which could drive the performance of the sector ahead.
Should You Invest in the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF)?
If you're interested in broad exposure to the Financials - Broad segment of the equity market, look no further than the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on December 16, 1998.
XLF: Why I Am Upgrading It
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) is upgraded from Sell to Hold after underperforming the S&P 500 and experiencing a recent pullback. XLF's technicals show support near $47.28 and resistance around $53, with the ETF trading just above its midpoint between the 52-week low and all-time high. Fundamentally, XLF trades at a forward PE of 17.3; scenario analysis yields a weighted target price of $52.01, only modestly above current levels.
The XLF Financial Sector ETF Puts 25% of Your Money in Just Two Stocks
When investors talk about financial sector exposure, Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund ( NYSEARCA:XLF ) often comes up first.
