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Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Friday Amid Strong Tech Results

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The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.3%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.6% higher in Friday's premarket activity as strong technology earnings supported gains in AI-related shares.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.6% before the start of regular trading.

The July employment report showed nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000, compared with the 80,000 jobs increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET, while June payrolls were revised downwards to a 20,000 increase and May payrolls were revised down to a 63,000 increase, for a net downward revision of 103,000 jobs.

Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin is slated to speak on Friday.

The New York Fed's inflation expectations report for July will be released at 11 am ET.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.9%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.5%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.

Power Play:

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 0.9%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.3% higher, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was flat. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 1.3% higher, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1.5%.

Atlassian (TEAM) shares were up more than 30% in premarket activity after the company reported higher fiscal Q4 non-GAAP net income and revenue.

Winners and Losers:

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.3%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was down 0.02% and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was 2.2% higher. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) rose 0.6%.

Figs (FIGS) shares were up more than 25% pre-bell after the company posted higher Q2 earnings and sales.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.8%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) were inactive.

Willdan (WLDN) stock was up more than 14% before the opening bell following the company's Q2 financial results.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated 0.2%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) gained 0.01%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) rose 2%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 1% higher.

Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) stock was up more than 10% premarket after the company reported it swung to Q2 adjusted earnings.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 0.5%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was 0.4% lower.

Innovex International (INVX) stock was down more than 5% before market open after the company said late Thursday it priced an underwritten offering of 5 million shares on behalf of selling stockholders.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.04%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.3% higher.

HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (HASI) shares were up 3% in early-hours activity after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 0.7% to $76.73 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was flat at $2.64 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 0.3% higher.

Gold futures for November advanced by 1.9% to $4,381.80 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures rose 4.5% to $64.40 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up by 1.5%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 3.5% higher.

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