Exchange-Traded Funds Lower, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Wednesday Ahead of Fed's Interest Rate Announcement
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.1%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) retreated 0.1% in Wednesday's premarket activity, ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate announcement.US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.2%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.2% before the start of regular trading.Mortgage applications fell by 6.4% in the week ended July 24, with both refinancing activity and new home applications pushed lower by an increase in 30-year fixed mortgage rates, data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association showed Wednesday.The weekly petroleum stocks data will be released at 10:30 am ET.The Federal Reserve's monetary policy committee will announce its latest decision on interest rates at 2 pm ET, followed by a press conference from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at 2:30 pm ET.In premarket action, bitcoin was up by 1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated 0.4%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was 2.2% lower.Power Play:IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated 0.6%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was flat and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Vertiv Holdings (VRT) stock was down more than 12% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.Winners and Losers:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.4%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was flat, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) slipped 0.9%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.3% lower.Humana (HUM) stock was down more than 8% premarket after the company cut its 2026 GAAP earnings guidance.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 1.2%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 2.3%.Eni (E) stock was up more than 5% before the market open after the company reported higher Q2 net profit and sales.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.2%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.2% higher, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 1.3%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 0.9% lower, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) declined by 0.9%.United Microelectronics (UMC) shares were down more than 3% in premarket activity after falling 9% at the prior close. The company reported higher Q2 earnings and operating revenue and announced a phased expansion plan to boost semiconductor manufacturing capacity in Singapore and Taiwan.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.3%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.035, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was 0.1% lower. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.6%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) retreated marginally by 0.02%.Unilever (UL) shares were down more than 2% pre-bell following a nearly 9% rise at the previous close. Reuters reported that the company agreed to protect the employment terms and conditions of workers in its European and UK food business for two years after its planned 2027 merger with McCormick (MKC). McCormick stock was 0.5% higher.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) lost 0.02%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.2%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.1% higher.UBS Group (UBS) shares traded up 1% in early-hours activity after the company reported higher Q2 earnings and revenue.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced by 4.8% to $83.05 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down by 1.2% to $2.63 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 6.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.2% lower.Gold futures for November retreated 0.2% to $4,090.00 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures were up 0.6% to $57.85 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) decreased 0.3%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.3% lower.