Wondering which sector is performing the best during the current economic crunch? The kind folks at MarketWatch provided the answer: technology. Nick Godt notes that the sector has gained strength from "investors playing an uncertain environment as both a defensive and a cyclical sector." For the month, tech is only 1.4% lower - winning it the coveted title of the best of the worst for February. The article adds that tech was followed closely by healthcare, "the most traditional defensive sector," with a loss of 1.6%.

Word is that retailers will be having a very cold holiday season this year. In fact, MasterCard has noted that sales of apparel, shoes, and appliances dropped considerably in the first two weeks of November. Consumers are being a little thriftier when it comes to extras as they're worried about unemployment and the recent news of a financial crisis. But no matter what's going on in the economy, there are just things that people need, staple items.

An investment in staples means you're banking on something that people are always going to need and will always purchase, no matter what the economy forecast is. Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLP) is an excellent way to invest in a variety of staples in one single investment purchase. This exchange traded fund (ETF) includes companies from food and drug retailing, beverages, household products and personal products. Items that are clearly essential to daily living.

With a single stock -- XLP you will get shares of such noted companies as the Coca Cola Co. (NYSE: KO), Colgate Palmolive (NYSE: CL), Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT), PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP), Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG), and Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT). These are all well-known household names that will continue to be market leaders in any financial environment. If you want to invest in things that people need, XLP is a sound choice.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: First Solar, Pride International and EnerSys were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Friedman Billings downgraded First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) to Underperform from Market Perform citing margin risk concerns, as the company aggressively pursues utility-scale projects in the US. The firm said risks are not reflected in share valuation near $300 and could be a source of disappointment but could also lead to downside EPS risk.
  
• Wachovia said Pride International (NYSE: PDE) has the least potential EPS upside vs. peers given the company has contracted the highest percentage of its floater days into 2012E. Additionally, the firm views a takeout by Seadrill as unlikely. Shares were cut to Underperform from Market Perform.
  
• Merriman downgraded shares of EnerSys (NYSE: ENS) to Neutral from Buy as they believe the strong Q4 results were driven by a one-time benefit from lead procurement mechanics and that data does not support the company's sustained margin expansion story.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Citigroup lowered Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) to Hold from Buy.
  
• UBS downgraded Nucor (NYSE: NUE) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Smart Modular (NASDAQ: SMOD) was downgraded at Oppenheimer to Perform from Outperform.
  
• The Airlines Sector was cut by Soleil to Neutral from Outperform.