Why basic materials stocks are back in play after XLB’s New Year rally
NEW YORK, Jan 4, 2026, 13:56 ET — Market closed The Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), a widely watched proxy for U.S. basic materials stocks, rose 0.77, or 1.7%, to $46.12 in the first session of 2026, ending within 31 cents of its 52-week high. Investing That early bid matters because materials are one of the market’s cleanest reads on inflation and global demand. When metals and chemicals move, investors are usually responding to a mix of growth expectations and the path for U.S. interest rates. The calendar turns quickly from holiday trading to hard data. The U.S. employment
