Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Thursday Amid Producer Inflation Data Release
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 0.1% higher in Thursday's premarket activity amid softer-than-expected July producer prices.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.2%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.1% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated 0.04%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 0.2% lower.The US Producer Price Index held steady in July following a 0.1% decrease in June, compared with the 0.2% gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 209,000 in the week ended Aug. 8 from an upwardly revised 200,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller increase to 202,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.The weekly natural gas stocks data will be released at 10:30 am ET.Federal Reserve Cleveland President Beth Hammack, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin, and Atlanta Fed President Cheryl Venable speak on Thursday.Power Play:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.1%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was flat, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was 0.1% lower. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.7% higher.Birkenstock (BIRK) shares were up more than 11% pre-bell after the company reported higher fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue.Winners and Losers:IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated 0.1%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was up 0.4% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Intuitive Machines (LUNR) stock was down more than 9% before the opening bell after the company reported a wider Q2 loss.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.1%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.03% higher, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.02%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was flat, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell by 0.5%.Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares were down more than 6% in premarket activity even after the company reported higher-than-expected fiscal Q4 results and guidance for fiscal Q1 and 2027.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 0.02% while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was 0.3% lower.Golar LNG (GLNG) stock was up nearly 3% before market open after the company posted higher Q2 net income and operating revenue.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 1.3%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 1% lower.Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) shares were up 2% in early-hours activity after the company said it is launching a proof-of-concept collaboration to bring Japanese government bond repurchase transactions on-chain through Canton Network.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.4%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.7%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) gained 0.5%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.6% higher.AbCellera Biologics (ABCL) stock was down more than 1% premarket after the company priced a public offering of shares and pre-funded warrants for expected gross proceeds of about $200 million, the company said Thursday.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 2.1% to $81.54 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was 0.8% lower at $2.78 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) decreased by 1.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.1% lower.Gold futures for November were down by 0.5% at $4,443.40 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures retreated 0.8% to $65.19 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was down by 0.6%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.6% lower.
