FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell Monday as US-Iran Tensions Escalate Near Strait of Hormuz

By

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.3% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) retreated 0.03% in Monday's premarket activity as escalating tensions between the US and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz push oil prices higher.

US stock futures were also lower, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.2%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.1% before the start of regular trading.

The factory orders data for March will be released at 10 am ET.

New York Federal Reserve President John Williams is slated to speak on Monday.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.4%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.6% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 1.5%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) retreated by 0.3%.

Power Play:

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.2%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.4%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was 0.5% lower. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.2%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) declined by 0.3%.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) shares were down more than 7% pre-bell after the company lowered its outlook for 2026 adjusted earnings.

Winners and Losers:

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated by 0.1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.4%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.2% lower.

Evotec (EVO) stock was up more than 3% premarket after the company said it has nominated the first small molecule preclinical development candidate from its multi-target drug discovery collaboration in medical dermatology with Almirall.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated by 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.4%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.7% higher.

CNA Financial (CNA) shares were down more than 2% pre-bell after the company reported lower Q1 core income.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated by 0.2%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) declined by 0.01% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.

ADT (ADT) stock was down more than 2% before the opening bell after the company said it initiated a secondary public offering of 102 million shares held by entities managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management (APO).

Energy

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

Equinor (EQNR) stock was up more than 2% before the opening bell after the company said it is extending key supplier deals for drilling and well services with an aggregate value of about 17 billion Norwegian kroner ($1.83 billion).

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained by 0.2%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.2% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.6%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) declined by 0.01%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) advanced by 0.01%.

SAP (SAP) shares were up more than 1% in premarket activity after the company said it has agreed to acquire Dremio and Prior Labs in separate deals aimed at supporting its enterprise AI and data capabilities.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 3% to $105.10 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up by 1.4% to $2.82 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) rose by 2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1% higher.

Gold futures for May were down by 1.7% at $4,567.80 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures fell by 3.5% to $73.76 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 1.1% lower, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) declined by 2.8%.

Related Articles

Treasury

Reinsurance Group of America to Redeem Subordinated Debentures Due 2056

Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) said late Friday it will issue a redemption notice to holders of all of its $400 million of 5.75% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debentures due 2056.The debentures will be redeemed in full on June 15 at 100% of the principal amount, the company said.

$RGA
Treasury

TSX Closer: Index Down Again Friday As Global Economy May Soon Face Renewed Tariffs Spats

The Toronto Stock Exchange closed lower Friday following a day-prior surge that recovered all of the losses made over the prior five sessions, as U.S. President Donald Trump said he will lift the tariffs charged on cars and trucks from the European Union next week to 25%, potentially adding more pressures on a global economy already struggling with the fallout from the Middle East war.The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 73.15 points, or 0.2%, to 33,891.18, with sectors mixed. Energy was down by more than 1%, while the Battery Metals Index rose 2.3% and Info Tech was up near 2%Still FactSet noted that going in to today the index was up 1,196.29 points or 3.65% in April, and up 2,251.57 points or 7.1% year-to-date.In its Monthly Equity Monitor for May 2026 published today National Bank noted equities are "riding exceptionally strong earnings expectations", with global markets reaching new highs despite an ongoing oil shock and persistent geopolitical risk. "Markets appear to be pricing in a rapid return to normal, but the Strait of Hormuz disruption continues to support a meaningful commodity-price premium," the bank said.National Bank remains cautious on risk assets, as renewed escalation could have severe global consequences, while even de-escalation may leave inflation and rates higher for longer. AI productivity gains offer upside over time, but they may not arrive quickly enough to fully offset the near-term drag from the commodity-price shock, weaker real income, and higher interest rates, the bank added.Meanwhile, on the economics front, Trump's latest threat against the EU comes as The Canadian Press reported Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney is rejecting the notion that his government might use energy or critical minerals as "leverage" in upcoming trade talks with the U.S. administration. Carney is cited in an interview as saying he wouldn't describe those sectors as "leverage" since Canada is not talking about stopping any sort of existing trade. His comments come after United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told an audience in Washington that Canada should not attempt to use its energy and mineral resources as leverage in discussions about renewing the continental free trade pact, the report notes.Of commodities, gold edged higher by midafternoon Friday but remained rangebound, even as the dollar and treasury yields rose while traders turn to bonds and also while the Iran War pushes up oil prices and boosts inflation and threatens higher interest rates. Gold for June delivery was up US$12.80 to US$4,642.40 per ounce.But West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed lower as Iran made a new peace proposal, that U.S. President Trump rejected. WTI crude oil for June delivery closed down US$3.13 to US$101.94 per barrel, while July Brent oil was down US$2.17 to US$108.23.

S&P/TSX CompositeS&P/TSX Composite$CXY
Treasury

US Treasury Closing Levels

3:00 Friday vs 3:00 Thursday2yr 99-24 vs 99-23; 3.884% vs 3.881%5yr 99-12 vs 99-11; 4.018% vs 4.019%10yr 98-00 vs 97-29; 4.375% vs 4.388%30yr 96-22 vs 96-11; 4.963% vs 4.985%2/10 48.906 bps vs 50.435 bps5/30 94.299 bps vs 96.315 bps