The S&P financial sector fell on Wednesday and turned negative for the year, in the latest indication that one of the strongest trades of the postelection rally is unraveling. The sector lost 0.9% on Wednesday, while the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF , the largest exchange-traded fund to specifically track financials, lost 0.8%. With the day’s move, financials are now down 0.3% for the year. The banking sector had been one of Wall Street’s most profitable trades in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s November election win. At one point, financials accounted for more than half the overall stock market’s advance. However, it has fallen more than 8% since early March, leading the overall market lower. Losses have come amid broad concerns about valuation, as well as the Federal Reserve indicating it might only raise interest rates by three times in 2017. Bank profits tend to be stronger in periods of higher rates, and investors had previously expected as many as four hikes this year. Despite expectations for higher rates going forward, benchmark bond yields have been trading at multi-month lows. The 10-year Treasury yielded 2.24% late Wednesday, near a five-month low. Caution over the financial sector has also been elevated going into the first-quarter earnings season, with investors looking for confirmation that its valuations are justified. A number of key banks will be reporting quarterly results in the coming days, including J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. , Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. on Thursday.
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