-- 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%.