Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Thursday as Interim US-Iran Deal Lifts Risk Sentiment
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.4%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) advanced 1.3% in Thursday's premarket activity, as investors welcomed an interim US-Iran agreement that reduced concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.7%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 1.3% before the start of regular trading.US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 226,000 in the employment survey week ended June 13 from an upwardly revised 230,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a larger decrease to 225,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 10.3 in June after decreasing to minus 0.4 in May, compared with expectations for a slightly smaller increase to a reading of 10 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.May's leading indicators data will be released at 10:00 am ET, followed by weekly natural gas stocks at 10:30 am ET.In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 0.6%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.5% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.4%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.Power Play:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.9%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.8% lower.HIVE Digital Technologies (HIVE) shares traded up 12% in early hours activity a day after the company said it received municipal approval to purchase the 32-megawatt Big Boden data center in Sweden from Bodens Utvecklings.Winners and Losers:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.2%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.1%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) gained 1.1%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.1% higher.Legend Biotech (LEGN) stock was down more than 9% premarket after the company priced an underwritten public offering of 7.7 million American depositary shares at $29.35 each, for gross proceeds of about $226 million.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 2%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was flat, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 1.9%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 2.1% higher, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 4.2%.Intel (INTC) shares were up more than 9% in premarket activity after President Donald Trump said Apple (AAPL) has "agreed to work with Intel to design and build its Chips in America." Apple stock was gaining by 0.3%.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) gained by 0.03%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was down by 0.5%.Equinor (EQNR) stock was down more than 3% before market open after edging down 0.2% in the prior close. The company and its partners said they have selected the development concept for the Ringvei Vest project in the Norwegian North Sea, which is expected to contribute about 240 million barrels of oil equivalent.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.3%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was flat, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.5%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) rose 1%.Diageo (DEO) shares gained nearly 1% pre-bell after the Financial Times reported that Chief Executive Dave Lewis has ordered senior executives to implement broad cost-cutting measures as part of a major restructuring effort at the spirits giant.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 1%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was up 1.9% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.SpaceX (SPCX) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after experiencing its first post-IPO retreat from recent record highs, as market data and multiple analysts point to active put option trading and technical downward pressure following the stock's initial surge.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 1.9% to $75.35 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas gained by 0.5% to $3.16 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) declined by 1.2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.6% lower.Gold futures for July were down by 2.7% to $4,261.40 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures retreated by 5.6% to $67.33 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) gained by 0.6%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.02% lower.
