Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Friday Amid Employment Data
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.6% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.8% higher in Friday's premarket activity amid April's employment data release.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.5%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.7% before the start of regular trading.The April employment report showed nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000, above the 65,000 jobs increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, while March payrolls were revised up to a 185,000 increase and February payrolls were revised down to a 156,000 decrease.The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment reading for May and the wholesale inventory data for March will be released at 10 am ET.In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.1% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated by 0.3%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) fell 3%.Power Play:TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 1%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.7% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) advanced by 2.7%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 2%.United Microelectronics (UMC) shares were down more than 3% in premarket activity after the company reported April sales of 22.66 billion New Taiwan dollars ($721.8 million), up 11% from a year earlier.Winners and Losers:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.2% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.7%. 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) and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.Toyota Motor (TM) shares were down more than 1% pre-bell after the company reported lower fiscal 2026 earnings.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.3%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.3%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) rose 2%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 0.5%.Tempus AI (TEM) stock was up more than 1% premarket after the company said it priced its upsized private placement of $400 million of 0% convertible senior notes due May 15, 2032.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.3%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.7% lower.Goldman Sachs BDC (GSBD) shares were down more than 1% pre-bell after the company reported lower Q1 adjusted net investment income and total investment income.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.6%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was flat and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was 1.1% higher.Ferrovial (FER) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and revenue.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) retreated by 0.02%.Scorpio Tankers (STNG) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after the company said it plans to offer $150 million of 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2031 via a private placement.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained by 0.1% to reach $94.92 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 0.2% at $2.77 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 1.3%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.1% lower.Gold futures for May gained by 0.4% to reach $4,728.60 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures advanced by 1.1% to $81.09 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.1% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) rose by 1.8%.