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Homebuilders ETF Lures Buyers as Battered Sector Gets a Reprieve

Homebuilders ETF Lures Buyers as Battered Sector Gets a Reprieve

(Bloomberg) -- Investors poured money into exchange-traded funds tracking homebuilders yesterday on strong earnings and an opportunity to buy the industry’s dip.

The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF, ticker XHB, took in $111 million Tuesday, its largest inflow since 2014. Investors also traded $437 million worth of the fund’s stock on the day, more than quadruple the average daily volume for the past year. XHB shares, which are down around 11 percent this month and 23 percent this year, rallied 5 percent during the session, helped by strong earnings from William Lyon Homes and new data showing the U.S. homeownership rate increasing.

Homebuilders ETF Lures Buyers as Battered Sector Gets a Reprieve

“This was an oversold and washed out group, and was ripe for a bounce.” said Christian Fromhertz, chief executive officer of Tribeca Trade Group.

William Lyon said long-term fundamentals remain strong given the record-low unemployment rate and growth in jobs. In addition, the homeownership rate in the U.S. rose slightly to 64.4 percent last quarter from 64.3 percent in the previous month. The gain could be a sign that first-time buyers are seeing opportunities as the housing market cools. The report helped lift the S&P 500 Homebuilding Index 4.8 percent Tuesday, although it remains down 30 percent for the year.

Homebuilders have come under pressure due to rising mortgage rates, a slowdown in demand and housing affordability issues. But a rebound in U.S. pending home sales could help a comeback. Contracts to buy previously owned homes rose for the first time in three months, an indication that the recent market slump could be stabilizing, National Association of Realtors data showed last week.

--With assistance from Tom Lagerman.

To contact the reporters on this story: Carolina Wilson in New York City at cwilson166@bloomberg.net;Vildana Hajric in New York at vhajric1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Courtney Dentch at cdentch1@bloomberg.net, Eric J. Weiner, Brendan Walsh

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