The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.2% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.6% higher in Monday's premarket activity as investors await details of US President Donald Trump's planned sanctions on Iran.
US stock futures were also lower, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.2%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.5% before the start of regular trading.
In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 1.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 3.1%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 2.3%.
The Chicago Federal Reserve Bank's monthly National Activity Index fell to a reading of negative 0.08 in July from 0.06 in June, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to negative 0.05 in a Bloomberg survey.
Power Play:
Technology
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.9%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.5% lower, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.6%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) declined 1.3% while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell 1.6%.
Parsons (PSN) shares were up nearly 2% after the company said it received a $514 million contract option from the United States Department of Defense's Missile Defense Agency to provide engineering and technical support.
Winners and Losers:
Consumer
The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.5%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.1% higher, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was 0.4% lower. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was down 1.1%%.
Alibaba Group (BABA) shares were down more than 2% pre-bell a day after the company priced a placement of 710 million new shares at 112.70 Hong Kong dollars ($14.38) apiece in Hong Kong for about HK$80 billion in proceeds.
Health Care
The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.3%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.4%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) fell 3%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 0.3%.
GSK's (GSK) stock was down 1% despite the company announcing positive regulatory updates, including approval for Hibsago in Japan and a priority review for Jemperli in the US.
Financial
The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.1%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.1% lower.
Aegon (AEG) shares traded up 1% in early-hours activity after the company said it has increased its H2 share buyback program by 150 million euros ($174.9 million) to 350 million euros, effective Monday.
Industrial
The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.01%, the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was down 0.1%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) rose 2%.
United Airlines (UAL) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after CNBC reported Sunday that the air carrier is set to return to JFK airport through a partnership with JetBlue Airways (JBLU) as early as 2027. JetBlue stock also rose 1%.
Energy
The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 1%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was 0.3% lower.
Eni (E) stock was up more than 1% before market open, extending the previous session's loss. The Financial Times reported Monday that the company is expanding its investment in nuclear fusion, targeting a commercial fusion plant in Europe by the early 2040s or sooner.
Commodities
Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 1.7% to reach $85.55 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 1.5% at $2.82 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) decreased 1.3%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 3.4% higher.
Gold futures for November were up by 0.7% at $4,716.00 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures gained 0.4% to reach $70.05 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) rose 1.1%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.2% lower.
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