JP Morgan barely moved, HSBC dipped slightly—these two banking giants acted like a "ballast" in today's broad market decline 😎. A strong dollar and rising interest rate expectations are actually good for banks' net interest margins, but when the market seeks safety, capital prefers to hide in cash and high-dividend stocks first. Banking stocks are stuck in a limbo, following the broader market's grind. The advantage of holding such large-cap stocks is right here: they're not eye-catching when they rise, and they don't fall much when they drop.