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Exchange-Traded Funds Rise as US Equities Gain Midday

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-- Broad Market Indicators

Broad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV rose. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) gained 2%.

US equity indexes rose after midday Friday, with technology topping sector charts, as Washington expected Iran to respond to its peace proposal later in the day.

Energy

IShares US Energy ETF (IYE) fell 0.1%, and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) increased 0.1%.

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) rose 2.9%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) climbed up 2.2%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) gained 2.1%.

The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) added 4.1%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) rose 4.2%.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) fell 0.3%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) lost 1%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), gained 1.2%.

Commodities

Crude oil rose 1%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) lost 0.2%. Natural gas was 0.9% higher, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) increased 0.3%.

Gold on Comex rose 0.2%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) advanced 0.3%. Silver grew 0.8%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) gained 1.6%.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) increased 0.8%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) moved up 0.7%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) advanced 0.8%.

The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was up 0.6%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) rose 0.3%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) gained 0.8%.

Healthcare

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) and iShares US Healthcare (IYH) each fell about 0.8%, while Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) declined 0.7%. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) eased 0.1%.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) was fractionally lower. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) were little changed.

Cryptocurrency

In midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) declined 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) fell 0.5%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) eased 0.1%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 0.8% lower.

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