Top Takes From RealMoney

The RealMoney contributors are in the business of trading and investing all day on the basis of ongoing news flow. Below, we offer the top five ideas that RealMoney contributors posted today and how they played those ideas.

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First-Half Laggards

By Alan Farley
8:26 a.m. EDT Worst-performing groups -- first half of 2009 (using common indices):

• Airlines: -27%
• Banks: -12%
• Water Utilities: -12%
• Insurance: -11%
• REITs: -7%
• Defense: -4%
• Drugs: -3%
• Telecom: -3%
• Transportation: -3%
• Oil: -3%
• Utilities: -1%

Banks are the real kicker on this list because of all the recovery hype. Their six-month performance shows they're still critically injured, with a "guarded" outlook into year's end.

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Acorda

By Adam Feuerstein
9:06 a.m.

Acorda Therapeutics(ACOR Quote) shares are down this morning despite what looks like a strong partnership deal for the company's multiple sclerosis drug signed with Biogen Idec(BIIB Quote).

My best guess here is that investors are disappointed that Acorda was not acquired outright.

No positions

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Exited URE

By Christopher Grey
10:38 a.m. EDT

I have exited my recent Ultra Real Estate ProShares(URE Quote) trade today with approximately a 10% profit in a little more than a week. My reasons for exiting include a significant profit in a short time frame, expected seasonal weakness in the market after the 4th of July and my perception that the overall market is in more of trading range with limited upside at these levels. I am not really bearish or bullish, but more neutral.

As a hedge against holding a lot of cash, I do have a significant position in gold via ProShares Gold Double Long(DGP Quote). This is not really a trade, but I would exit the position if it hit certain price targets.

Positions: Long DGP