Metals and mining hold up best

Even modest gains for the major averages could not be sustained this afternoon, and markets slipped back near breakeven levels in the final hour of trading. I had a decent number of small gainers in my portfolio, although they were mostly limited to narrow sectors such as mining and related equipment. Commodity plays and stocks related to global growth are behaving well in the recent selloff, while companies primarily exposed to the consumer (and especially the American consumer) are struggling. Since the recent earnings season did nothing to inspire confidence in broader markets, we'll probably need some clarity on the macroeconomic picture before a rally can be sustained

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