Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Amid S&P 500, Nasdaq Rally, Middle East Peace Optimism
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.7%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 1.7% higher in Wednesday's premarket activity amid all-time highs achieved by the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq along with continued optimism for an end to the Middle East conflict.US stock futures were higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.7% before the start of regular trading.The Richmond Federal Reserve's manufacturing and business conditions readings for May are due to be released at 10 am ET, followed by the Dallas Fed's non-manufacturing survey for May at 10:30 am ET.Mortgage applications fell by 8.5% in the week ended May 22 as a sharp increase in mortgage rates pushed down refinancing activity and new home applications, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday.In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.2% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 2.8%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) increased by 0.2%.Power Play:IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 1.5%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 1.7%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) rose 1.3%.Dycom Industries (DY) stock was up more than 23% before the opening bell after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 adjusted net income and contract revenue.Winners and Losers:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) dropped 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.3%, while Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.2% higher.Qfin (QFIN) stock was up more than 7% even after the company posted lower Q1 non-GAAP net income and net revenue.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 1.4% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) dropped by 1.4%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) retreated by 1.6%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) increased by 0.2%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was 1.2% lower, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.5% higher.PDD Holdings (PDD) shares were down more than 7% after the company posted Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue that missed analysts' estimates, with non-GAAP EPS declining year over year.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) increased by 2.6%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 2.3% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 2.4%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) gained by 4.7%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 6.1%.Micron Technology (MU) shares were up more than 7%, extending gains after the company's market capitalization eclipsed $1 trillion for the first time on Tuesday.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was 2.5% lower, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was down by 2.7%.TotalEnergies (TTE) is facing a dispute with Mozambique over about $2 billion in costs tied to delays at its liquefied natural gas project in the country, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter. Shares of TotalEnergies were down more than 2% pre-bell.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.9%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.7%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) lost by 0.7%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.4% higher.Guardant Health (GH) shares were up more than 5% after the company said its Shield blood test has been included in the American Cancer Society's updated Colorectal Cancer Screening guidelines.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell by 5.6% to $88.54 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 1.8% at $2.95 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) retreated by 2.7%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.3% lower.Gold futures for August retreated by 1.6% to $4,461.50 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures fell by 2.9% to $74.35 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up by 0.04%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) rose by 2%.
