Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Tuesday Amid Renewed Pressure on Semiconductor Stocks
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.02%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) retreated 0.8% in Tuesday's premarket activity, as markets traded mixed amid renewed pressure on semiconductor stocks.US stock futures were also mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.8% before the start of regular trading.The US advance international trade in goods deficit narrowed to $101.46 billion in June from $105.89 billion in May, according to data released by the US Census Bureau, compared with a narrower gap of $100 billion expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:40 am ET.May's home price data will be released at 9:00 am ET, followed by consumer confidence and the Richmond Federal Reserve's conditions readings, both for July, at 10:00 am ET.The Dallas Fed's nonmanufacturing index for July is due to be released at 10:30 am ET.In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 2.3%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 2.2% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) fell 3.8%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was up 1.9%.Power Play:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 1.7%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was flat, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was 0.5% higher. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.Unilever (UL) shares were up more than 8% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q2 turnover and underlying sales.Winners and Losers:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.5%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 1.4%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 1.5% lower.Barclays (BCS) shares traded down 6.4% in early-hours activity even after the company reported higher Q2 earnings and total income.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 1.1%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.1%.Expro (XPRO) stock was up more than 5% before market open after the company raised its 2026 revenue guidance.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated 0.1%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was 0.7% higher and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was flat.GE Vernova (GEV) stock was down more than 4% before the opening bell following a 1.8% loss in the prior session. The company said it was selected to replace two pumped storage units at First Hydro's Dinorwig hydropower plant in the UK.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 1.3%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.9%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) gained 0.4%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was flat.CG Oncology (CGON) stock was up more than 1% premarket after the company reported durable responses and bladder preservation in patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in its phase 3 study of cretostimogene grenadenorepvec.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 2%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.8% lower, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 1.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) fell 2.5%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) declined by 4.2%.Nvidia (NVDA) shares were down 0.8% in premarket activity after falling 5% at the previous close, while Apple (AAPL) gained 0.4% after a 1.2% rise at Monday's close. Apple surpassed Nvidia as the world's most valuable company on Monday, marking the first time it has closed above the chipmaker since April 2025. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Taiwanese prosecutors have detained an Nvidia employee as part of an investigation into the alleged smuggling of advanced AI chips to China.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined by 1% to $81.79 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down by 1.6% to $2.72 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 0.2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.5% lower.Gold futures for November retreated 1.2% to $4,088.50 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures were down 2% to $57.53 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) decreased 1.4%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 2.1% lower.
