The Select Sector SPDRs carving the S&P 500 into nine slices may be unique in the exchange-traded fund universe: They serve not only as investing and trading vehicles but also as equity-market indicators, lagging, coincident and leading. Accordingly, I keep an eye (or two) on them at all times.
A few results of this many-faceted observation process can be found in a recent series of articles published here at Seeking Alpha. In each of the nine pieces, I focus on a single sector SPDR: its behavior in the first half of this year relative to its parent's proxy, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), and all its siblings; its average monthly performances during the first full 15 years of its existence; and market-moving issues likely to have effects on it in the foreseeable future (e.g., changes in policy at the U.S. Federal Reserve).
If you employ the sector SPDRs as market indicators, then you might want to read all of these articles. If you use a given sector SPDR as either an investing or a trading vehicle, then you might want to read the piece related to it. In any case, all nine of them are accessible via the hyperlinks appearing below:
Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLU's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLE's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLV's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLB's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLK's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLP's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLF's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLI's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF: XLY's 2014 Halftime Report And Seasonality
SPY And Select Sector SPDR ETFs In First Half Of This Year
Source: This J.J.'s Risky Business chart is based on analyses of adjusted daily share-price data at Yahoo Finance.
Author's Note: As you may or may not have noticed, Seeking Alpha recently launched its ETF Hub, which Jonathan Liss described here. I am looking forward to checking out all its bells and whistles.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein by the author do not constitute an investment recommendation, and they are unsuitable for employment in the making of investment decisions. The opinions expressed herein address only certain aspects of potential investment in any securities and cannot substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. The opinions expressed herein are based on an incomplete set of information, illustrative in nature, and limited in scope. In addition, the opinions expressed herein reflect the author's best judgment as of the date of publication, and they are subject to change without notice.