Asia Markets
Exchange-Traded Funds Higher, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Amid Lingering Geopolitical Uncertainty, CPI Focus
The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.1% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.1% higher in Friday's premarket activity amid lingering geopolitical uncertainty and the release of consumer inflation data.US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.03%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.04%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.US consumer prices rose 0.9% in March, in line with expectations, compared with a 0.3% gain in the prior month.The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index for April and the factory orders data for February are due to 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 0.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 0.3%.Power Play:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated marginally by 0.01%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.8%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slipped 0.4%.Telix Pharmaceuticals (TLX) stock was up more than 9% premarket after the company said the US Food and Drug Administration accepted its resubmitted new drug application for its investigational glioma imaging agent Pixclara.Winners and Losers:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was flat and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.8%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) advanced 0.4%. 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 0.4%.Shake Shack (SHAK) shares were up more than 3% pre-bell after Mizuho upgraded the company's stock to outperform from neutral and lifted its price target to $120 from $100.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.6%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.8% higher.SLM (SLM) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell. RBC cut the company's price target to $28 from $32 while maintaining its outperform rating.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 0.2%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.2% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.01%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 0.7% higher, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 0.7%.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) shares were up more than 2% in premarket activity after the company reported higher Q1 net revenue.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.3%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.3% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after Goldman Sachs raised its price target to $61 from $69.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was flat, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was down by 0.2%.Eni (E) stock was up nearly 1% before Friday's opening bell after the company said it has invested $70 million in Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG). Nouveau stock was down 9%.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 0.1% to reach $97.95 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas retreated by 1.5% to $2.63 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down by 1.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.2% lower.Gold futures for May were down by 0.6% at $4,790.50 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures declined by 0.9% to $75.76 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.01% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) advanced by 0.3%.
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