-- Broad Market Indicators
Broad-market exchange-traded fund IWM and IVV rose. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) edged up 0.4%.
US equity indexes were higher after midday Thursday as investors weighed mega-cap corporate earnings and a warning from Iran's new supreme leader that Tehran won't give up its nuclear stockpile.
Energy
IShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each added about 0.8%.
Technology
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) was down 0.4%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) rose 0.6%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) gained 0.5%.
The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) climbed 3.7%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) was up 1.9%.
Financial
The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) added 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) climbed 0.3%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), lost 0.4%.
Commodities
Crude oil fell over 2%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) lost 3%. Natural gas was up 4%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) rose 4.2%.
Gold on Comex added 1.4%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) advanced 1.6%. Silver rose 2.3%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was up 2.6%.
Consumer
The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) rose 1.4%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) added 1.5%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was 0.9% higher.
The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) rose 0.4%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) added 0.5%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) was up 1.9%.
Health Care
The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) rose 2.3%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) added 2.3%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was 2.2% higher. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 2%.
Industrial
The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) added 2.4%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) were also higher.
Cryptocurrency
In midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) added 0.8%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) rose 1%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) gained 1.2%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.