ETF Investors Head to Safe Harbors

Despite news of the biggest banking regulatory overhaul since the New Deal, stocks stayed flat Wednesday. Banks of all sizes will face more government oversight, a prospect that discouraged investors. Bright spots included Pfizer (PFE) and Watson Pharmaceuticals (WPI) as health-care stocks provided a positive counterpoint to the financial sector. Oil ticked up to get close to $71 a barrel, reversing a couple of down days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended down seven points at 8497. For a complete rundown of Wednesday s trading session, see our market story.

Winners

The SPDR Health Care Select Sector fund (XLV) rose 2.2% as the health sector drew renewed interest. The SPDR S&P Retail fund (XRT) partially rebounded from a Tuesday drop, gaining 1.5% for the session.

Losers

The Market Vectors Agribusiness fund (MOO) slipped 3.6% on sliding commodity prices and weaker demand estimates from Germany, an important market for potash. Stocks standing in the path of financial system reform slipped across the sector Wednesday, dropping the SPDR KBW Bank (KBE) fund 3.3%.

Thursday s Notebook

Earnings and Conference Calls
8:30 a.m. Initial Jobless Claims
10:00 a.m. June Philadelphia Fed Business Index
10:00 a.m. May Conference Board Leading Indicators
10:00 a.m. DJ-BTMU Business Barometer

Economic Data
Carnival, J. M. Smucker, Pier 1 Imports, Research In Motion, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods, Winnebago

A look at how the industry's most popular ETFs did on Wednesday:

10 Largest ETFs
SymbolNet AssetsPrice52 Week High52 Week LowVolume
SPY 63,69291.55136.4468.13220,501,074
EFA 30,20146.2873.1132.1623,802,575
EEM 30,79331.6847.6819.1289,579,885
GLD NA92.3597.2470.1412,058,184
IVV 17,69291.77136.6568.243,617,678
QQQQ 13,35735.8948.8525.51149,052,620
IWF 9,44240.758.4730.493,793,546
SHY 7,05983.518582.11752,167
VTI 10,15745.9768.5233.751,585,890
IWD 7,12246.9173.7334.222,866,630

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