The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.2% higher in Thursday's premarket activity amid a two-day meeting between the US and China.
US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.7%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.2% before the start of regular trading.
US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 211,000 in the week ended May 9 from a downwardly revised 199,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller increase to 205,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.
US import prices rose by 1.9% in April, above the 1% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET and faster than a 0.9% gain in March.
US retail sales rose by 0.5% in April, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET and following the previous month's 1.6% gain.
Business inventory data for March is due to be released at 10 am ET, followed by weekly natural gas stocks at 10:30 am ET.
Federal Reserve Kansas City President Jeffrey Schmid, Cleveland President Beth Hammack, New York President John Williams, and Governor Michael Barr are slated to speak on Thursday.
In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 10%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.2% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) retreated by 0.01%.
Power Play:
Health Care
The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.2%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT), the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH), and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) were flat.
Doximity (DOCS) stock was down more than 10% premarket after the company overnight reported a steeper-than-expected drop in fiscal Q4 adjusted earnings and sales guidance for the next financial year lagged market expectations.
Winners and Losers:
Technology
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained by 0.4%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.5% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) increased by 0.3%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell by 0.1%.
Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares were up more than 15% in premarket activity after the company reported forecast-beating fiscal Q3 results and said it plans to lay off about 4,000 employees, representing around 5% of its workforce.
Consumer
The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.1%, and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) gained 0.3%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) increased by 0.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) retreated by 0.01%, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.3% higher.
Yeti (YETI) shares were up more than 10% pre-bell after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal Q1 adjusted net income and net sales.
Industrial
The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated by 0.2%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.04% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.
Copa (CPA) stock was up more than 3% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q1 earnings and operating revenue.
Energy
The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 0.3%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.02%.
Consolidated Edison (ED) stock was down more than 2% before the opening bell. Goldman Sachs raised its price target on the company to $105 from $103 and maintained its sell rating.
Financial
The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.9%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.8% lower.
Commodities
Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 0.1% to $100.95 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down 0.7% to $2.84 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) decreased by 0.7%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was flat.
Gold futures for May retreated by 0.1% to $4,700.30 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures fell by 2.3% to $87.30 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.2% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) declined by 0.8%.