Homebuilders ETF Up On Buffett Purchase Rumor

The SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB) ETF increased 2.5% because Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) might purchase a stake in Hovnanian Enterprises Inc (HOV). HOV makes up 4.2% of XHB.

HOV is up 9%, possibly because short sellers don't want to be in this market, and they don't want to be against Buffet's bet, says Jon C. Ogg at MarketWatch. Hovnanian has a connection to the California and Florida housing markets, which are especially volatile, so anything is possible.

As for XHB, this small shot upward isn't really a big deal; it doesn't change anything. XHB is down 16.9% for the year, so hopefully it can only get better from here. Berkshire Hathaway already owns a lot within the housing sector, so it would be easy to integrate HOV. Imagine what can happen for this sector if it's already up based on rumors and short covering.

XHB vs. HOV 1-yr chart:

Comments

[Terry Satte...:]

this snippet is pure conclusory supposition hardly worth impingement on cyberspace (incidentally I am one of the conflicted shorts)...seriously this conjectural assertion is not even factually correct

2007 Jul 17 01:03 PM