Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Tuesday Amid Second Round of US-Iran Talks
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) advanced 0.3% in Tuesday's premarket activity, amid a second round of talks between the US and Iran.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.6%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.4% before the start of regular trading.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's monthly non-manufacturing activity index rose to minus 16.5 in April from minus 23.9 in the previous month, compared with expectations for a small increase to a minus 19.8 reading in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET, indicating a slower pace of contraction in the sector.US retail sales rose 1.7% in March, above expectations for a 1.4% increase and compared with a prior 0.7% gain.The pending home sales data for March and the business inventories data for February will be released at 10:00 am ET.Fed Governor Christopher Waller is slated to speak on Tuesday.In premarket action, bitcoin advanced by 0.4%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.5% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated 0.2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) declined by 0.3%.Power Play:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) gained 0.8%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was 0.9% higher, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) rose 2%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advanced 0.02%.UnitedHealth (UNH) stock was up more than 7% premarket after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Winners and Losers:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 1.2%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.8% lower.MSCI (MSCI) shares were up more than 4% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 0.3%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.6% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.4%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) increased by 1.9%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1%.Onto Innovation (ONTO) shares were up more than 2% in Tuesday's premarket activity after the company said it plans for a $710 million equity investment in Rigaku to advance the so-called process control services for semiconductor manufacturing.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) retreated by 0.2% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.3% lower. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.9%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.6% higher.D.R. Horton (DHI) shares were up more than 6% pre-bell after the company reported higher-than-expected fiscal Q2 net income and revenue.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) slipped by 0.1%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) retreated 0.2% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (PAC) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after the company said its Q1 passenger traffic dropped by 5.5% year-over-year, even as its net income and revenue were higher.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.1%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.2%.Shell (SHEL) stock was up 0.7% before the opening bell. Reuters reported, citing court documents, that the company faces a fresh lawsuit by a Dutch climate activist organization demanding it immediately end its investments in new oil and gas projects.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 0.4% to $89.29 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas declined by 0.8% to $2.67 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 0.9%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.4% higher.Gold futures for May were down by 0.4% to $4,812.10 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures retreated by 1.1% to $79.73 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.4% lower, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) fell by 0.7%.
