The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) retreated 0.4% in Thursday's premarket activity, as investors take a breather during one of the market's slowest periods.
US stock futures were also lower, with S&P 500 Index futures, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures, and Nasdaq futures down 0.4% before the start of regular trading.
The jobless claims report will be released at 8:30 am ET, followed by the EIA Petroleum Status Report at 11 am ET.
The Fed Balance Sheet will be released at 4:30 pm ET.
In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 3.6% and the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 3.7% lower.
Power Play:
Health Care
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) retreated 0.3%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.2% while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was down marginally by 0,01%.
SciSparc (SPRC) stock was up more than 217% premarket after the company said that AutoMax Motors, an Israeli automotive importer and distributor with which the company has agreed to merge, received its first shipment of vehicles from China's Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group.
Winners and Losers:
Technology
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) retreated 0.4%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.2% lower, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) slipped 0.2%. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell by 0.8%.
Palladyne AI (PDYN) shares were up nearly 20% in recent Thursday premarket activity, extending gains from Tuesday's close of a more than 37% increase. The company said on Monday that it used its Pilot AI software for a third-party drone flight using autonomous tracking.
Consumer
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) were inactive. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was marginally up by 0.02%, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) gained by 0.01%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.
Toyota Motor (TM) shares were up more than 9% pre-bell Thursday after Nikkei Asia reported late Wednesday, citing a Toyota executive, that the company plans to double its return on equity target to 20%.
Financial
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) lost 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.9%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1.2% higher.
VersaBank (VBNK) shares were up 2.9% pre-bell Thursday. The company said Tuesday that underwriters of its public offering fully exercised an option to purchase 849,056 additional common shares at $13.25 apiece, adding almost $11.3 million in gross proceeds.
Industrial
Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) retreated 0.4% while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.2% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.
EHang Holdings (EH) stock was up 1.8% before the opening bell after the company said it has formed a partnership with the People's Government of Fangshan District in Beijing to advance low-altitude emergency rescue efforts.
Energy
The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) gained marginally by 0.01%.
Commodities
Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced 0.6% to $70.49 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas retreated 2.1% to $3.86 per 1 million British Thermal Units. United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 0.6%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) fell by 3.6%.
Gold futures for February gained by 0.2% at $2,641.70 an ounce on the Comex, while silver futures retreated 0.04% to $30.27 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.4% higher, while the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was up 0.1%.
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