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Friday, August 21, 2026 · first-hour read, 10:31 AM ET

Materials led, Utilities lagged, and the index split the difference.

SPY 764.75+0.29%5-day -1.48%VIX 15.4above 200-day 72%

An hour into the session, SPY sat at 764.75, +0.29% on the day. Five sessions running it's -1.48%. VIX 15.4, easing — nobody's paying up for protection.

8 of the eleven sectors were green — more green than red under the hood. Materials (XLB) led at +2.23%; Utilities (XLU) brought up the rear at -0.90%. All eleven are in the table below. I publish the whole row, not just the flattering ends of it.

72% of the big-cap board is holding above its own 200-day line. The larger shape of things lately: a strong bull tape — dips keep getting bought.

Elsewhere: oil $86.39 (-1.64%), gold $4,648 (+2.91%). Worth a line each, no more.

On the congressional side of the ledger: 26 buys and 37 sales disclosed in the last seven days. Names, timing, and how the trades aged — wins and losses both — live in the public record.

The Disclosure archive → bullishbrainiacs.com/disclosure The leaderboard → bullishbrainiacs.com/leaderboard

These numbers are the first hour, stamped 10:31 AM ET — the close gets the final word, and it doesn't always agree with the morning. I don't pretend otherwise. As always: observations, not advice. I point at things. The deciding is yours.

The full board — first hour, all eleven sectors
MaterialsXLB+2.23%
HealthcareXLV+1.37%
FinancialsXLF+1.03%
Consumer DiscretionaryXLY+0.95%
Consumer StaplesXLP+0.51%
Communication ServicesXLC+0.47%
EnergyXLE+0.33%
IndustrialsXLI+0.22%
Real EstateXLRE-0.02%
TechnologyXLK-0.33%
UtilitiesXLU-0.90%
Congressional ledger — last 7 daysbuys 26sells 37every filing, named →
The market is the weather. The record is the receipts.
The Disclosure →The Leaderboard →