Exchange-Traded Funds Fall as US Equities Drop Midday on Labor Data, Iran Tumult

-- Broad Market Indicators

Broad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV fell. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) eased 0.1%.

US equity indexes fell Thursday as investors weighed labor data and Iran's response to a Washington proposal to restart peace talks.

Energy

IShares US Energy ETF (IYE) fell 2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) dropped 1.9%.

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) fell 0.1%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) climbed 0.1%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) fell 0.3%.

The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) shed 1.6%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) lost 2.5%.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) fell 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) dropped 1.3%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), gained 1.1%.

Commodities

Crude oil rose 0.7%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) gained 0.1%. Natural gas and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) each increased 2.4%.

Gold on Comex rose 0.6%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) advanced 0.4%. Silver jumped 4%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) gained 3%.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) decreased 0.5%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) shed 0.4%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) declined 0.6%.

The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was little changed. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) fell 0.7%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) declined 1.4%.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) fell 0.8%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) dropped 1%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) declined 1.1%. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) tumbled 2.8%.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) lost 1.1%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) dropped 1.2% and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) shed 0.7%.

Cryptocurrency

In midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) declined 2.2%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) fell 2.1%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) dipped 2.6%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 2.4% lower.

Update: Gold Rises Again on Prospects the Iran War is Nearing an End

(Updates prices.)Gold rose for a third-straight session midafternoon Thursday on optimism a deal to end the war on Iran may be near, cutting into oil prices and pushing the dollar lower amid easing fears the supply shock around the war would boost inflation and force higher interest rates.Gold for June delivery was last seen up US$20.60 to US$4,714.00 per ounce, after rising by US$125,80 on Wednesday.The rise comes amid optimism the United States and Iran are closer to a peace deal. The Wall Street Journal reported the two countries are working with mediators to come up with a framework to resume negotiations, with talks in Pakistan beginning as soon as next week on a 14-point memorandum of understanding offered by the Trump Administration.Traders have been cautious about turning to gold as a safe haven during the economic turmoil that followed Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking exports from Persian Gulf nations that supplied 20% of global oil demand. The high oil prices that followed the Feb. 28 start to the war has boosted inflation, heightening worries central banks will raise rates to slow demand, concerns eased by the prospect of talks that could bring an end to hostilities."Gold's reaction to ceasefire optimism yesterday reinforces our view that the underpinnings for gold remain intact and increases our conviction in our long-held call for gold to trade mostly in the $4500-5000/oz range this year," Christopher Louney, a gold and natural gas strategist at RBC Capital Markets, wrote.The dollar edged higher, with the ICE dollar index up 0.0 points to 98.11. Treasury yields rose, with the yield on the U.S. two-year note last seen up 4.9 basis points to 3.919%, while the 10-year note was paying 4.393%, up 4.2 points.

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EXp World Acquires NextHome, Changes Ticker Symbol to 'AGNT'

EXp World (EXPI) said Thursday it has acquired NextHome, a national real estate franchise.NextHome brings a scalable franchise model into the ecosystem with more than 500 franchisees across the US, the company added.In conjunction with this acquisition, the company said it will begin trading under the new symbol "AGNT" on Nasdaq, effective at the market open on Friday.Shares rose more than 4% in Thursday trading.Price: $6.78, Change: $+0.26, Percent Change: +3.91%

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Utz Brands' Underlying Growth Remains Strong, RBC Capital Markets Says

Utz Brands' (UTZ) quarter-to-date trends appear soft but underlying growth remains solid, driven by distribution gains, innovation, and California expansion momentum, RBC Capital Markets said in a note Thursday.Management is optimistic that the company's new products will support topline growth and that the company is well-covered for most of the year on fuel, agricultural commodities, and freight, easing inflationary concerns, according to the note.Full-year guidance for the salty snacks category still assumes an approximately flat growth, which analysts said is appropriate given the noisy Q1 and consumer environment.Following the roughly in-line Q1 results and reaffirmed guidance, the brokerage said it is adjusting its 2026 estimates to reflect organic sales growth of 2.5%, EBITDA growth of 6%, and an EPS decline of 4.1%.RBC Capital Markets maintained its outperform rating on the stock, with a price target of $15.Shares of Utz Brands were down 5% in Thursday trading.Price: $7.88, Change: $-0.42, Percent Change: -5.06%

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Update: Gold Rises Again on Prospects the Iran War is Nearing an End

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Utz Brands' Underlying Growth Remains Strong, RBC Capital Markets Says