Exchange-Traded Funds Higher, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Thursday Ahead of Fed's Jackson Hole Symposium

09:15 AM EDT, 08/27/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.6%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 1% higher in Thursday's premarket activity, ahead of the US Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium. US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.5%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.01%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 1% before the start of regular trading. US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 203,000 in the week ended Aug. 22 from an upwardly revised 207,000 level in the previous week, in contrast with expectations for an increase to 208,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:40 am ET. The US advance international trade in goods deficit widened to $118.81 billion in July from $101.41 billion in June, according to data released by the US Census Bureau. Weekly natural gas stocks will be released at 10:30 am ET, followed by the Kansas City Federal Reserve manufacturing reading for August at 11 am ET. In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 1.2%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.4% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 1.4%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) increased 0.4%. Power Play: Consumer The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.5%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) retreated 0.6%, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.4%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was inactive. Dollar General (DG) shares were up more than 10% pre-bell after the company reported higher fiscal Q2 earnings and revenue. Winners and Losers: Technology The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 2%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.8% higher, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) advanced 2.3%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 2.8%. Nvidia (NVDA) stock was 7% higher after the company posted overnight higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue. Health Care The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.5%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.6%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) slipped 0.01%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.3% lower. Moderna (MRNA) stock was down more than 4% premarket after the company said it plans to offer $2 billion worth of convertible senior notes due 2032 in a private placement. Financial The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.7%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 1.8%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 1.8% higher. Hyperliquid Strategies (PURR) shares were up 4% in early hours activity after the company reported fiscal 2026 net income Thursday of $305.5 million. Industrial The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.4%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.1% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive. GE Vernova (GEV) stock was up more than 2% before the opening bell after the company said it will deliver a new 400-kV gas-insulated switchgear substation in Chesterfield, England, for National Grid projects. Energy The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.1%. Commodities Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained by 0.2% to reach $82.37 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 1.9% at $2.90 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased 0.6%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.4% higher. Gold futures for November were down by 0.1% at $4,647.60 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures gained 0.3% to reach $69.02 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) decreased 0.2%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.2% lower.