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Exchange-Traded Funds Higher, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Tuesday Amid Stalled US-Iran Talks

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The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.2% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.4% higher in Tuesday's premarket activity as stalled US-Iran talks weigh on investors.

US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.03%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.3% before the start of regular trading.

The National Federation of Independent Business' monthly Small Business Optimism Index rose to a reading of 99.8 in July from 97.4 in June but was below a reading of 100.3 a year earlier.

The existing home sales data for July will be released at 10 am ET.

In premarket action, bitcoin was up by 0.7%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.8% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.9%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 0.5%.

Power Play:

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.02%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.7% lower, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.02%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.

Upwork (UPWK) shares were down more than 18% pre-bell after the company posted Q3 and 2026 guidance that trailed analyst estimates.

Winners and Losers:

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.03%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.01%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.03% lower.

Riot Platforms (RIOT) shares were up 16%, a day after that company said that it signed a computing agreement expected to generate $9.10 billion in revenue over the initial 20-year term and includes two five-year extension options that could bring total contract value to $16.10 billion.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.3%, the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was flat, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.

Plug Power (PLUG) stock was up more than 14% before the opening bell after the company reported a narrowed Q2 adjusted net loss and higher revenue.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated 0.01%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) gained 0.01%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.4% lower.

Legend Biotech (LEGN) stock was up more than 4% premarket after the company reported forecast-beating Q2 earnings and revenue.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.1%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was down by 0.2%.

HighPeak Energy (HPK) stock was up more than 4% after the company reported higher Q2 earnings and revenue late Monday.

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 0.6%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was flat, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.03%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 2.4% higher, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1.4%.

Nvidia (NVDA) shares were 1% higher pre-bell after the chipmaker said it partnered with six major financial institutions to raise $500 billion in third-party capital for the development of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced by 0.4% to $82.43 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was 0.04% lower at $2.79 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 0.1%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1% higher.

Gold futures for November gained by 0.7% to reach $4,451.70 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures retreated 0.2% to $65.18 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up by 0.2%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 1.1% higher.

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Commodities

Market Chatter: Hindustan Copper Eyes Codelco Mines to Feed Adani, Hindalco Demand

Hindustan Copper (BOM:513599, NSE:HINDCOPPER) plans to supply copper concentrate from Chilean miner Codelco's assets to domestic producers Hindalco (BOM:500440) and Adani Enterprises' (BOM:512599, NSE:ADANIENT), as India's demand for the metal surges, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.The company is also reportedly exploring a Codelco joint venture for mining and sales.In April, India's mines secretary said Coal India (BOM:533278, NSE:COALINDIA) and NTPC Mining are in talks for additional copper blocks, Reuters reported.Hindustan Copper had signed a preliminary deal with Codelco last year, followed by a non-disclosure agreement and the appointment of a deal advisor in May, the news outlet said.Hindustan Copper, Hindalco and Codelco did not immediately respond to' requests for comment.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

BOM:500440BOM:512599BOM:513599BOM:533278NSE:HINDCOPPER
Commodities

US Natural Gas Update: Futures End Higher as LNG Exports Support Prices

US natural gas futures ended higher Monday, with stronger winter pricing and a firming forward curve supporting the market despite elevated production and inventories.The front-month Henry Hub contract and the continuous contract both rose 4.40% to $2.78 per million British thermal units.Stronger LNG exports from the US Gulf Coast and hedge fund short covering helped lift natural gas prices, as higher flows to export terminals reduced gas available to the domestic market, according to a Bloomberg report.NYMEX natural gas prices ended last week modestly higher, with gains concentrated in the upcoming winter months, NRG Energy said.The 2027 calendar year contract increased just over three cents to $3.316/MMBtu, while the 2029 strip remained the highest calendar strip at $3.696/MMBtu, NRG Energy said.US natural gas prices had climbed toward $2.80 earlier last week before retreating toward $2.60 by Aug. 7 as high production and inventory levels weighed on the market, JOGMEC Journal said.US gas inventories reached 3,117 Bcf as of July 31 following a 33 Bcf weekly injection, with stocks 0.4% below year-earlier levels but 6.7% above the five-year average, according to Energy Information Administration data cited by JOGMEC Journal.Natural gas production also continued to rise, reaching 109.1 Bcf/d by the end of last week, up 1.3 Bcf/d from Thursday, while overall demand remained largely unchanged, NRG Energy said.

Commodities

US Extends Jones Act Waiver 90 Days to Support Energy Deliveries

The Trump administration extended the Jones Act waiver for 90 days to protect critical resource supplies and support US military and economic needs, the White House said Monday.In an email reply to, a White House spokesperson said the new waiver will take effect Aug. 17, addressing US maritime industry concerns while helping prevent supply shortages that could disrupt military operations and the economy.The waiver makes two key changes. First, the Department of War must consult with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on the availability of Jones Act vessels before each individual shipping voyage and then determine whether the waiver applies to that voyage.The waiver also narrows the range of commodities and energy resources eligible for relief, limiting shipments to specified products, the White House said.The White House also shared data showing that more than 230 tankers have sought the waiver to move US cargoes between US ports, creating more than 86 million barrels of additional capacity for oil and energy products.According to the White House, MARAD data shows 210 Jones Act waivers have been utilized, while the relief has enabled up to a 50% increase in domestic deliveries of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.California received 51 cargoes, the most among US destinations, reflecting its limited pipeline connectivity and reliance on marine deliveries to balance regional supply, the White House said.Movements on Jones Act-qualified vessels remained relatively steady during the waiver period, indicating that the relief supplemented rather than displaced existing US-flag capacity during periods of elevated demand.Waived vessels have delivered more than 14 million barrels of crude oil and more than 20 million barrels of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and blending components to US markets, the White House added.The covered commodities under the revised waiver include fuel blend stocks, diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, crude oil, fuel oil, gas oil, bunker fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, bitumen and petroleum coke.The list also includes chemicals derived from petroleum or natural gas, liquefied natural gas, naphtha, soybean oil and fertilizers.The latest reporting covers 160 completed voyages, while 50 additional voyages have 10 days to file cargo details.