Financials and real estate investment trusts (REITs) have displaced energy stocks as the performance leaders for US equity sectors this year, through yesterday’s close (Aug. 18), based on a set of exchange traded funds.

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* Republican governors favor Covid cocktails over masks as cases surge
* US troops may stay in Afghanistan past deadline, says Biden
* Pockets of resistance to Taliban rule emerge in several Afghanistan cities
* Fed preparing for tapering bond purchases later this year, minutes suggest
* Fed official warns hefty bond purchases are ill-suited for US economy
* 30yr-5yr Treasury spread suggests confidence in Fed policy outlook
* Taliban now control $1 trillion of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth
* More trouble for China tech giants after new batch of proposed regulations
* Federal judge nixes Trump administration’s Ok of Alaska oil drilling project
* US housing starts fell more than forecast in July: