Relative Performance: Not surprising to see weakness on ratio chart against S&P 500 for the staples. It is the "worst" actor among the 11 major S&P sector groups up just better than 7%. The XLP is now 4% off most recent 52 week highs, and top component in PG could have ETF feeling heavy as chart is sporting bearish top pattern.
Relative Strength: XLU is the 10th best of 11 major S&P sectors on a YTD basis having advanced almost 10% YTD. The current 3-week winning streak has gained by a tepid 5.2%. Last week's 2.4% advance was the second-best WEEKLY gain in last 6 months. Has made back just more than half of the strong 4 week sell-off the weeks ending 9/10-10/1, many in above-average WEEKLY volume.
Relative Performance: Ratio chart below compared to S&P 500 makes it look like healthcare is having a tough year. Just the opposite with XLV higher by more than 17%, but that makes it just the ninth-best major S&P sector actor of 11. Not helping is that the XLV is just the 10th best of 11 on a one and three-month lookback period, basically UNCH during the time frame.
Relative Performance: Group has seen some real bifurcating action this year. Of course, gold and gold miners have been a big weight on the overall materials space as the only 2 subsectors within negative on the year. On the other hand, aluminum and steel, and chemicals have been a tailwind for the group. On ratio chart below one can see the failed rally attempts last 6 months.
Relative Performance: Group which has been on a slippery, steady downtrend between June-September has recorded a potentially good looking bullish reversal. Over that last week, the transports have really led the charge and that could be saying an economy on the mend. The truckers,, railroads and delivery services all have done most of the heavy recent lifting. UPS looking attractive, back above 200 number, just 7% off most recent 52 week highs while FDX is 27% off its own, not a typo.