Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The stock market has been trending higher with participation broadening out beyond the mega-cap space. 

However, the S&P 500 consumer staples sector is on the outside looking in at today's gains. Most components in the countercyclical sector are down in a session that has been more about taking on risk than avoiding it. 

Hershey Foods (HSY 162.88, -7.04, -4.15%) is the weakest performer today, falling below its 50-day moving average (166.64). Estee Lauder (EL 86.53, +0.97, +1.13%), on the other hand, is bucking the sector trend and stands as today's top performing sector component. 

For the week, the sector is down 1.7%, and it is up 4.3% for the year.