A very hard-hit sector from this market sell-off has been the financials including Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM), Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC).

There are a variety of reasons for this sell-off. Some include poor hedge fund performance (Goldman and Bear), worries about unknown exposure to the derivative market, a slowdown coming in investment banking, and subprime credit exposure. While all of these concerns and worries are very legitimate, I'm starting to see very legitimate value opportunities arise in this category.

It's embarrassing to admit that I liked Goldman Sachs at more than $200 per share with the stock currently below $170 per share. But I really think that this is more a case of Mr. Market offering an opportunity rather than a sign of things to come. I believe that everything I argued in my first bullish take on Goldman is still legitimate -- a very strong 'brand,' relative undervaluation vs. peers, and so on. Unlike many of its peers, Goldman wouldn't be absolutely devastated by a significant slowdown in the investment banking business (presumably due to the end of the LBO boom) because of its abundant money management and sales and trading businesses. As a result, I think that Goldman remains a very interesting investment.

With the S&P 500 nearing a new all-time high, technical expert Larry McMillan assesses the road ahead. Here's his technical view, a look at market leadership, and some favored stocks.

"A new all-time closing high for the S&P 500 suggests that the all-time intra-day highs at 1552 are now the next key level within the context of this market cycle. The positive technical pattern of higher-highs and higher lows has continued.

"Sector leadership remains positive as the financial sector – as seen in the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers Index Fund (ASE: IAI) and the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Financial Index Fund (ASE: IYF).

"Also positive has been the continued strength in the energy sector as seen in the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Energy Sector Fund (ASE: IYE) and the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil Services Trust (ASE: OIH).

"Therefore, sector leadership remains positive – and this should continue to inspire further gains in the major market indices as long as this trend remains in effect. Meanwhile, market breadth has recovered over the past few trading sessions.