Exchange-Traded Funds Lower as US Equities Fall After Midday

-- Broad Market Indicators

Broad-market exchange-traded fund IWM and IVV were lower. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) eased 0.2%.

US equity indexes fell in midday trading Thursday, as geopolitical risk ratcheted up in the Middle East and Tesla's (TSLA) capital expenditure guidance for this year tripled from a year ago.

Energy

IShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each gained about 0.3%.

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) was down 0.7%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) each lost about 0.6%.

The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) rose 3%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) was up 2.7%.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) shed 0.7%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) declined 2.8%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), climbed up 2.8%.

Commodities

Crude oil rose 1.1%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) gained 1.5%. Natural gas was up 1.0%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) dropped 4.5%.

Gold on Comex slipped 0.2%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) fell 0.2%. Silver declined 2.2%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was down 1.7%.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) rose 1.6%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) gained 1.4%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was 1.7% higher.

The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) dipped 0.2%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) rose 0.3%, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) fell 0.9%.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) fell 0.3%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) shed 0.5%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was 0.5% lower. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) dipped 1.1%.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) rose 2.1%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) also advanced.

Cryptocurrency

In midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 0.9%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) dipped 0.7%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) lost 2.8%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was down 1.1%.

CVR Energy Reports Q1 Production Gains as Utilization Reaches 97%

CVR Energy (CVI) reported Q1 earnings Wednesday, showing total production of 211,812 barrels per day, up from 116,575 b/d a year earlier.The company reported total throughput of 214,268 b/d for the quarter ended Mar. 31, up from 120,377 b/d, a year earlier.Coffeyville refinery gathered crude throughput rose to 50,723 b/d in the quarter, from 26,728 b/d a year earlier, CVR Energy said.Other domestic crude throughput increased to 62,045 b/d from 12,348 b/d, while Canadian crude throughput rose to 17,384 b/d, compared with 640 b/d a year earlier, the company said.Coffeyville produced 74,789 b/d of gasoline for the quarter versus 18,940 b/d a year earlier, while distillate output increased to 57,138 b/d from 20,233 b/d, the company said.Other liquid products declined to 4,439 b/d for Q1, down from 6,324 b/d a year earlier, while solids output rose to 5,981 b/d from 1,321 b/d, CVR Energy said.Wynnewood refinery throughput for gathered crude declined to 58,154 b/d compared with 68,572 b/d a year earlier, the company added.Other domestic crude throughput increased to 11,556 b/d for the quarter, up from 573 b/d, the company said.Wynnewood produced 36,699 b/d of gasoline for Q1, compared with 39,740 b/d a year earlier, while distillate output rose to 30,343 b/d from 24,948 b/d, the company said.Other liquid products declined to 2,413 b/d from 5,058 b/d, while solids output remained largely unchanged at 10 b/d versus 11 b/d, CVR Energy said.Crude utilization reached 96.8% of capacity, compared with 52.7% a year earlier, reflecting improved operating performance across refining assets, the company said.For Q2, the company expects total refining throughput between 200,000 b/d and 215,000 b/d, with crude utilization projected at 92% to 99%, it said.

$CVI

Research Alert: Strength In Japan Propelled Aflac's Q1 Results

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:AFL reported Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.75 versus $1.66 (+5.4%), topping our $1.58 estimate but missing the $1.80 consensus view, with currency headwinds creating a $0.02 negative impact. Net EPS surged to $1.98 from $0.05 (+3,860%) due to a significant swing in investment performance, with net gains of $49M versus $963M in losses. We view the strong underlying insurance operations as encouraging despite persistent Japanese yen weakness affecting results. Management is expected to update its 2026 outlook and sales forecast on tomorrow's conference call. Japan showed particular strength with new annualized premium sales surging 25.5% to 17.7B ($113M), due to successful product launches including Anshin Palette medical insurance and Miraito cancer insurance. U.S. sales growth of 2.9% to $318M primarily reflected group products, though we expect continued distribution challenges given the company's dependence on independent agents in an increasingly digital marketplace.

$AFL

Intuitive Surgical Insider Sold Shares Worth $291,887, According to a Recent SEC Filing

Amy L Ladd, Director, on April 28, 2026, sold 619 shares in Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) for $291,887. Following the Form 4 filing with the SEC, Ladd has control over a total of 120 common shares of the company, with 120 shares held directly.SEC Filing:https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035267/000178175026000002/xslF345X05/edgardoc.xml

$ISRG

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