Exchange-Traded Funds Higher as US Equities Advance After Midday
Broad Market IndicatorsBroad-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.EnergyIShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each added about 0.8%.TechnologyThe 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%.FinancialThe 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%.CommoditiesCrude 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%.ConsumerThe 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 CareThe 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%.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) added 2.4%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) were also higher.CryptocurrencyIn 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.