The resolution for the fiscal cliff remains elusive. The politicians hate each other too much to be rational. If one sector has a lot to lose as the country drives off of the fiscal cliff in a “Thelma & Louise” fashion, it is the housing sector. Shares homebuilders are down but the sector around retail and insuring mortgages is also down. Here is how some of the key homebuilders are doing themselves:

D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI) is down 2.3% at $19.65 against a 52-week range of $12.06 to $22.79.

KB Home (NYSE: KBH) is down 3.6% at $15.03 against a 52-week range of $6.17 to $17.30.

Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) is down 2.6% at $38.27 against a 52-week range of $18.83 to $39.88.

PulteGroup Inc. (NYSE: PHM) is down 2.6% at $18.00 against a 52-week range of $5.88 to $18.86.

Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) is down 2.8% at $31.41 against a 52-week range of $19.63 to $37.08.

We are also seeing an impact in the retailers tied to home improvements:

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) is down 1.5% at $61.05 against a 52-week range of $41.52 to $65.92, and Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is down 1.2% at $34.96 against a 52-week range of $24.76 to $36.47.

MGIC Investment Corp. (NYSE: MTG), a home mortgage insurer, is down almost 3% at $2.33 against a 52-week range of $0.66 to $5.15. Radian Group Inc. (NYSE: RDN) is down by 2.5% at $5.19 against a 52-week range of $2.00 to $5.55.

The SPDR S&P Homebuilders (NYSEMKT: XHB) is down 1.6% at $26.35, but this is 1% higher than the lows after the open.

Another Christmas present from Washington D.C.

JON C. OGG

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