Alcoa led off the new corporate earnings season with good news which boosted investor confidence. The major American stock indices made solid advances on Wednesday as investor anxiety concerning the new quarterly earnings season subsided after Alcoa (NYSEARCA:AA) met its earnings expectations and reported better- than-expected sales.  Alcoa’s report was interpreted as a signal that the new earnings season will be generally upbeat. As of 2:19 EST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 61 points (0.46 percent) to 13,389.  The S&P 500 Index rose 0.28 percent to 1,461 (NYSEARCA:SPY).  As the chart (at left) indicates, the S&P 500 continues to struggle at its previous resistance level – its September 14 high of 1,465.  Its Relative Strength Index has risen to 61.33 (Chart courtesy of  Stockcharts.com ).  The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.49 percent to 3,107 (NASDAQ:QQQ).  The Russell 2000 Index also climbed 0.49 percent to 879 (NYSEARCA:IWM).   Focus on Earnings with These ETFs The “Dollar Bull” Index ETF (NYSEARCA:UUP) advanced 7 cents (0.32 percent) to 22.02 as of 2:10 EST. As of 1:59 EST, the S&P 500 Volatility Index – or VIX – advanced 1.17 percent to 13.78 and the VIX Short-Term Futures ETN rose 0.29 percent to 27.26 (NYSEARCA:VXX). The Euro STOXX 50 Index finished Wednesday’s session with a 0.56 percent advance to 2,706 – staying well above its 50-day moving average of 2,576.  The STOXX 50 is holding above its March 19 high of 2,608 and its Relative Strength Index is 64.64 (NYSEARCA:FEZ).  The FTSE 100 Index climbed 0.74 percent to 6,098 (NYSEARCA:EWU).  The German DAX Index rose 0.32 percent to 7,720 (NYSEARCA:EWG).  France’s CAC 40 Index advanced 0.31 percent to 3,717 (NYSEARCA:EWQ).  Spain’s IBEX 35 Index jumped 1.81 percent to 8,606 (NYSEARCA:EWP).  Italy’s FTSE MIB Index skyrocketed 2.21 percent to 17,326 (NYSEARCA:EWI).   An Idiot’s Guide to Investing As of 2:06 EST, the euro declined 0.18 percent against the dollar, trading at $1.3057 (NYSEARCA:FXE). On London’s ICE Futures Europe Exchange, March futures for Brent crude oil declined by 22 cents (0.20 percent) to $110.80/bbl. (NYSEARCA:BNO, NYSEARCA:USO).   Crude Oil Falls as Oil and Gasoline Inventories Rise in the U.S. February Gold futures declined by $6.00 (0.36 percent) to $1,656.20 per ounce (NYSEARCA:GLD). ETF Summary:  SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSEARCA:DIA)  +0.40%   as investors feel more confident about quarterly earnings season, thanks to Alcoa. SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF (NYSEARCA:FEZ)  +0.14%  making a more modest – yet more reasonable – advance than the Euro STOXX 50 Index which climbed 56 basis points for no logical reason. Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLI)  +1.01%  as the Industrial sector gets a big boost after Alcoa’s positive earnings report and better-than-expected sales. iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund (NYSEARCA:TLT)  +0.03%  holding at the breakeven level despite advancing stock prices.   Learn More About iShares ETFs SPDR S&P 500 INDEX ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY)  +0.30%  as Alcoa’s earnings report increases investors’ appetite for risk. Bottom line:  Investor anxiety about earnings season subsided on Wednesday after Alcoa met its earnings expectations and reported better-than-expected sales.    Sign up for Wall Street Sector Selector’s FREE Stock Market Timing Indicator!    Disclaimer: The content included herein is for educational and informational purposes only, and readers agree to Wall Street Sector Selector’s Disclaimer , Terms of Service , and Privacy Policy before accessing or using this or any other publication by Wall Street Sector Selector or Ridgeline Media Group, LLC.