Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Rise Pre-Bell Friday Amid US-Iran Deal Hopes
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.1% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.1% higher in Friday's premarket activity amid hopes of a possible US-Iran shipping and ceasefire agreement.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.The US advance international trade in goods deficit narrowed to $82.40 billion in April from $85.27 billion in March, according to data released by the US Census Bureau. In the same report, wholesale inventories rose by 0.5% in April after a 1.5% increase in March. Analysts polled by Bloomberg expected wholesale inventories to increase by 0.8%.Chicago PMI data for May will be released at 9:45 am ET.Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is slated to speak on Friday.In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 1.8%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.6% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 2.6%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 0.9%.Power Play:TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 1.1%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 1.4% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.8%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) gained 0.9%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 0.6%.Dell (DELL) shares were 34% higher in premarket activity after the company reported fiscal Q1 financial results that topped analyst estimates and issued higher-than-expected guidance for fiscal Q2 and fiscal 2027.Winners and Losers:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.02%, and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was flat. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.2%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) gained 0.1%, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) declined by 1.6%.Chagee (CHA) shares were up more than 12% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q1 revenue.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated by 0.1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) advanced by 0.02%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained by 0.3%.Agios Pharmaceuticals (AGIO) stock was down more than 5% premarket after the company said it will discontinue development of tebapivat for lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes following a phase 2b study that failed to meet the company's threshold for further advancement.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced by 0.1%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) rose 0.6% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was 0.2% higher.Firefly Aerospace (FLY) shares were more than 5% lower before market open after the company said late Thursday it priced a public offering of 4 million shares, alongside 8 million shares being offered by certain selling stockholders, at $48 per share.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was flat, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was down by 0.3%.Solv Energy (MWH) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after the company priced an upsized public offering of 15 million Class A common shares at $36 apiece.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.2%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.4% lower.Blackstone (BX) shares were edging 0.2% higher pre-bell after closing the previous session with a 106% decline. Bloomberg reported that the company is in talks to sell its 45% stake in Leica Camera to Asian investment firm HSG.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 1.3% to $87.76 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 5% at $3.04 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.8% higher.Gold futures for July advanced by 0.6% to $4,561.10 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures declined by 0.2% to $75.78 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up by 0.6%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) fell by 0.2%.