AlphaTALKS Wall Street Breakfast, Nov. 21: What Moved Markets This Week

Stock markets failed to maintain an early week rally caused by positive news on a coronavirus vaccine. The second half of the week was marked by a search for direction as the S&P 500 (SP500) clung to gains. The technology-heavy Nasdaq (COMP) was stronger than the broader market.Crude oil prices (CL1:COM) responded better to vaccine news this week, flirting with $42/barrel. WTI futures are up more than 17% in November, nearly twice the S&P.Economic data releases came up short of expectations, with October retail sales trailing estimates and jobless claims rising for the first time in five weeks.Winners & LosersCyclical sectors led the way, with financials, industrials, and energy stocks gaining ground. The Financial Select SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLF) is up around 3% this week. The Vanguard Industrials ETF (NYSEARCA:VIS) has rallied by more than 4% and the iShares Global Energy ETF (NYSEARCA:IXC) by more than 8%.Among individual stocks, Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ:FANG) is up 25%. Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) and TechnipFMC (NYSE:FTI) added 21% and 23%, respectively.Retail was another bright spot, with the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA:XRT) adding 7.7% this week. L Brands is up 20% after beating quarterly estimates on Wednesday. Under Armour (NYSE:UA) shares rallied 16% after upgrades and speculation an activist investor could enter the fray.Healthcare stocks were one of the main losers after Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) made waves with the launch of a pharmacy business. The iShares US Healthcare ETF (NYSEARCA:IYH) is down 1.5% on the week. Shares of Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) are each down about 7%. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:REGN) is down about 7.5%.Defensive stocks like utilities also sold off this week, with the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLU) down about 3%.On the earnings front, Home Depot (NYSE:HD) and Lowe's (NYSE:LOW) beat estimates but shares fell. Target (NYSE:TGT) also posted a strong report and saw its shares rally by more than 7% on the week.There was big news from Boeing (NYSE:BA), with the FAA clearing the 737 MAX to return to the skies. Shares are up 16% this week.What Caught Our Eye(s) This WeekKim: Gen Z stocks heavy on streaming, social responsibility; hold the drinking, air travel;Brad: Tesla's inclusion in the S&P 500 and the debate on who might get bumped from the index;Stephen: Bitcoin is 'Here to stay,' Blackrock's Rick Rieder says in new full-throated supportPlease note: Next week's episode is canceled due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.About This PodcastAlpha TALKS Wall Street Breakfast is a weekly roundtable covering what moved markets this week (WMMTW), featuring a panel of Seeking Alpha editors.Hosted by Nathaniel E. Baker, Contributing Editor, and featuring:Bradley Olesen, VP News;Kim Khan, Senior News Editor;Stephen Alpher, Managing Editor News, co-host of Seeking Alpha's Alpha Trader podcast.AlphaTALKS videos, featuring highlights of this podcast, publish every Friday by close of trading. Watch this week's here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices