Broad Market Indicators
Broad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV were higher. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) gained 0.3%.
US equity indexes rose after midday Wednesday as Moderna (MRNA) and Merck (MRK) surged on positive results from a late-stage trial of their melanoma vaccine, and the US Treasury said it would double the buybacks of long-dated government debt.
Energy
IShares US Energy ETF (IYE) gained 0.5% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) rose about 0.3%.
Technology
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) shed 0.5%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) eased 0.2% and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) also declined 0.3%.
The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) shed 1.7%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) was down 1.6%.
Financial
The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) declined 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) advanced 0.4%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), declined 0.4%.
Commodities
Crude oil rose 2%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) added 1.5%. Natural gas gained 1.8%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 1.4%.
Gold on Comex increased 3.1%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up 3.4%. Silver was 3.1% higher, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was up 3.6%.
Consumer
The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) was up 0.9%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) added 0.9%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) rose 0.3%.
The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was up 1.8%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) added 1.1%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) rose 2%.
Healthcare
The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) added 2.6%. iShares US Healthcare (IYH) gained 2.8% and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was 2.5% higher. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed up 4.6%.
Industrial
The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) shed 0.5%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) fell 0.5%, and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) was also down 0.2%.
Cryptocurrency
In midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) rose 6.4%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) added 6.4%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) was up 9.6%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 7.3% higher.