Exchange-Traded Funds Higher, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Thursday as Markets Weigh Oil Prices, Tech Earnings

09:20 AM EDT, 09/03/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR SP 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.2%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.04% higher in Thursday's premarket activity as investors weigh higher oil prices and tech earnings reports. US stock futures were mixed, with SP 500 Index futures up 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gaining 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.1% before the start of regular trading. Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray Christmas said Thursday that companies planned to cut 52,881 jobs in August, up from 33,429 in July but below 85,979 layoff intentions in August 2025. SP Global services data for August will be released at 9:45 am ET, followed by the ISM services report for August at 10 am ET. The weekly natural gas stocks data is scheduled for a 10:30 am ET release. In premarket action, bitcoin was up by 0.8%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.6%, and Bitcoin Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat. Power Play: Health Care The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.3%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.2%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.1% higher. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (RARE) shares were down 47% in premarket activity after the company said overnight that its phase 3 Aspire study of apazunersen in Angelman syndrome - a rare neurogenetic disorder - failed to meet the primary endpoint and a key secondary endpoint. Winners and Losers: Technology The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.4%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.03% lower, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 1.4%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR SP Semiconductor ETF (XSD) decreased 0.3%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) declined 1.3%. Snowflake (SNOW) shares were up 23% in premarket activity Thursday after the company overnight reported better-than-expected fiscal Q2 results and raised its full-year product revenue guidance. Industrial The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.4%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was down 0.1%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive. AeroVironment (AVAV) stock was up more than 6%, a day after the company said it has been awarded a $464.8 million contract by the US Army's Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fires program office for the Enduring-High Energy Laser program. Energy The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) gained 0.01%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.5%. Scorpio Tankers (STNG) stock was up 2.2% before market open, nearly reversing the gain at the prior session. The company said it has entered into time charter agreements for three product tankers. Consumer The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.02%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.1%, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR SP Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.2% higher. Tesla (TSLA) shares were up more than 1% pre-bell after Reuters reported that the company has begun on-road tests of its Full Self-Driving system in France. Financial The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.3%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.6%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.9% lower. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) shares traded up 1% in early-hours activity after the company said that its New York Stock Exchange subsidiary and Korea Exchange signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on expanding access to global capital markets. Commodities Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up by 1.3% at $92.21 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was 1.3% higher at $2.99 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) rose 1.4%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) advanced 0.3%. Gold futures for November were up by 1.6% at $4,485.90 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures advanced 1.2% to $66.22 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) increased 1.9%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 1.5% higher.