Chris Ciovacco:  Financial stocks have been immensely disliked by investors relative to other options since the peak in late 2006/early 2007.  If you look at the performance of financial stocks relative to the S&P 500 on a longer-term basis, the recent “surge” off the December 2011 lows is far from significant in Read more…

NYSE:FAS, NYSE:FAZ, NYSE:SKF, NYSE:XLF, NYSE:XLY

Ron Rowland: It’s easy to get caught up in recent stock market action. Then there are investment advisors who often go to the other extreme, urging their clients to ignore current events and think “long term.” The correct answer is somewhere in between. Read more…

NYSE:SPY, NYSE:XLB, NYSE:XLF, NYSE:XLI

David Zeiler: The bankruptcy of MF Global Holdings (NYSE:MF) was a distressing signal to investors that it is possible for U.S. financial institutions to fall victim to the Eurozone debt crisis. Read more…

NYSE:FAS, NYSE:FAZ, NYSE:SKF, NYSE:UYG, NYSE:XLF

US stock futures are sharply lower Tuesday after Greece announced it would hold a public referendum on the new austerity plan. The surprising decision is the latest snafu for a rescue plan that appeared to be ironed out last week. Investors cheered the deal late last week, sending the market soaring above the range, but today’s gap Read more…

NYSE:RTH, NYSE:SPY, NYSE:XLF, OIH

Chris Vermeulen: I am not one to discuss fundamentals or macro views, but this  situation in Europe is beginning to morph into a media frenzy. Price  action in the marketplace is changing rapidly in short periods of time  based on the latest press releases coming from the Eurozone summit. Read more…

NYSE:EEM, NYSE:IWM, NYSE:IYT, NYSE:UUP, NYSE:XLF

Global markets are charging higher Thursday after European leaders agreed to a wide ranging deal to lessen Greece’s debt burden, recapitalize troubled Euro banks, and increase the firepower of the EFSF. S&P futures are 25 handles higher, taking the index to 4th quarter highs. The deal is not perfect, but there is Read more…

NYSE:SPY, NYSE:XLF

Kerri Shannon: If you weren’t convinced before, hopefully you’ve seen the light now: Don’t buy bank stocks. Money Morning Global Investing Strategist Martin Hutchinson Read more…

NYSE:FAS, NYSE:FAZ, NYSE:SKF, NYSE:UYG, NYSE:XLF

US stock futures are unchanged this morning as investors remain cautiously optimistic about Europe and continue to digest corporate earnings. Tomorrow, European leaders will once again convene to try to put together a plan to address the region’s sovereign debt crisis. While to this point there has been much talk and little action, investors seem to Read more…

NYSE:SDS, NYSE:XLF, QQQ, QQQQ

US stock futures are flat on Monday morning as investors continue to wait on an aid resolution from European leaders. At Sunday’s summit in Brussels European leaders expressed optimism that they could find common ground, but acknowledged that there are differing opinions and still work to do. As they departed the summit, leaders pledged to draft a far-reaching plan in time for Read more…

NYSE:SPY, NYSE:XLF, QQQ, QQQQ

EconMatters: Wall Street big banks (NYSE:XLF), although not entirely responsible for the Great Recession, most experts agree that banks creating and partying in the subprime securitization mess is one of the major contributing events that broke the camel’s back. Read more…

NYSE:FAS, NYSE:FAZ, NYSE:XLF

David Zeiler: The very austerity measures that Greece implemented to remedy its sovereign debt crisis have crippled its economy so badly the country is actually sinking deeper into the red, making default all but inevitable. Read more…

NYSE:GLD, NYSE:SLV, NYSE:TNA, NYSE:TZA, NYSE:VGK, NYSE:XLF

Shah Gilani: Long gone are the days when bank stocks (NYSE:XLF) were safe investments. Now, and for the foreseeable future, the only safe way to play banks and financials is by trading them. Read more…

NYSE:FAS, NYSE:FAZ, NYSE:SKF, NYSE:XLF

Kerri Shannon: For decades, Wall Street offered the allure of big league paydays and behind-the-scenes power. But since the 2008 financial crisis there’s been a growing sense – or even hope – that The Street’s stride had been broken. After all, demand for a financial system overhaul, regulatory reform, and a crackdown Read more…

NYSE:FAS, NYSE:FAZ, NYSE:SKF, NYSE:XLF

The market is shrugging off the surprising Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) earnings miss with futures set for a flat open. Media reports regarding efforts to solve a Euro zone debt crisis continue to be conflicted, leaving the market a bit indecisive this morning. Yesterday The Guardian reported that France and German had come to an agreement over the aid package, but now there are reports that the sides still have Read more…

NYSE:SPY, NYSE:XLF

(NYSE:SPY) premarket went as low as $119.15- which was around the low from last Thursday that held at$ 119. I scooped up some small SPY below 119.50 premarket. Will trade it vs. the premarket low. (NYSE:BAC) and (NYSE:GS) are now up! See if they can hold. If they do, this can be a good for the indices. GS above $98.50 is a big victory, if it can hold for more than 60minutes perhaps it gets frisky. I also scooped some (NYSE:XLF) Read more…

NYSE:SPY, NYSE:XLF