We saw some signs of bullish options flows in a number of sector exchange traded funds on Wednesday as equity markets reversed the previous day’s rally.
For instance, out of the money call buyers appeared in SPDR S&P Retail (NYSEArca: XRT), Industrials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEArca: XLI) and Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEArca: XLY).
The weakness in the market seems to have attracted “value buyers” whom do not seem daunted by the relatively high VIX level, and they want to own upside calls in the case of a furious snapback rally.
With sector ETFs options trading actively in yesterday’s session, this presents an opportunity to speak about ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (NYSEArca: EQL).
EQL is designed to invest in equal proportions of the nine Select Sector SPDR Indexes, which are materials, consumer discretionary, energy, industrials, technology, financials, healthcare, utilities, and consumer staples.
How has EQL performed? Since debuting in July of 2009, EQL is up 29.58% versus the S&P 500 up 29.01%, and year to date EQL is down 10.07% versus the S&P 500 down 9.75%.
EQL may be appealing to those portfolio managers whom run tactical sector approaches utilizing sector ETFs, as they can potentially use EQL to temper some of the volatility in such portfolios through its equal weighting, and it also reduces the risk of “not picking the correct” sectors as far as over and underperformers on a relative strength basis are concerned.
ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF
For more information on Street One ETF research and ETF trade execution/liquidity services, contact pweisbruch@streetonefinancial.com.