Financial stocks and sector-related exchange traded funds strengthened Friday after three big U.S. banks revealed better-than-expected earnings results.
The Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLF) rose 0.6% on Monday and crossed back above its short-term, 50-day simple moving average. Nevertheless, the financial sector remains one of the worst performing areas of the S&P 500 of 2016, with XLF up 1.5% year-to-date.
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Financial shares pushed higher Friday after J.P. Morgan (NYSE: JPM), Citigroup (NYSE: C) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) revealed earnings that beat analysts’ expectations, the Wall Street Journal reports.
J.P. Morgan posted profit that beat analysts’ estimate, with earnings at an adjusted $1.59 per share compared to expectations of an average $1.39 per share, on a 48% jump in fixed-income revenue on increased activity in government debt after the United Kingdom voted to break away from the European Union, reports Hugh Son for Bloomberg.
Citigroup Inc. revealed third-quarter profit that beat estimates on a 35% surge in bond-trading revenue as well, with net income of $1.24 per share, compared to average estimates of $1.15 per share, reports Dakin Campbell for Bloomberg
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Wells Fargo & Co. also showed third-quarter profit that beat estimates, with net income coming in at $1.03 per share compared to average expectations of $1.01 per share, on improving loan-loss provisions and revenue from mortgage banking, reports Laura J Keller for Bloomberg.
However, WFC shares were dragged down by the ongoing scandal that led to a fine with regulators and two congressional hearings, which have led to Chief Executive John Stumpf being replaced by Timothy Sloan on Wednesday.
C shares gained 0.4%, JPM was down 0.1% and WFC was 0.4% lower on Friday. XLF includes a hefty 10.2% tilt toward JPM, along with 8.5% WC and 5.9% C.
Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) will report earnings next week.
For more information on the financial sector, visit our financial category.
Financial Select Sector SPDR