Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell Tuesday as AI Stocks Retreat, Oil Prices Rise

09:09 AM EDT, 10/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- 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% lower in Tuesday's premarket activity as renewed weakness in AI stocks and rising oil prices weighed on sentiment amid incoming corporate earnings. 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 0.7% before the start of regular trading. September housing starts fell by 5.2% from the previous month to a 1.221 million annual rate, compared with expectations compiled by Bloomberg for a 1.305 million rate after a decrease to a 1.288 million pace in August. Building permits decreased by 0.2% to a 1.400 million rate in September, compared with the 1.385 million rate expected and following a decrease to a 1.403 million rate in August. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's monthly nonmanufacturing activity index fell to negative 23.6 in October from negative 22.0 in the previous month, indicating more widespread contraction in the sector. Pending home sales for September will be released at 10 am ET. In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 0.6%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.6% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.8%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat. Power Play: Healthcare The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.7%, while the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT), the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) were inactive. Rapport Therapeutics (RAPP) shares were 23% higher after the company said a phase 2 trial of RAP-219 in Bipolar Mania patients met the primary and secondary endpoints. Winners and Losers: Industrial The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated 0.5%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) were inactive. NuScale Power (SMR) stock was down more than 7% before the opening bell after Barclays downgraded it to underweight from equalweight. Consumer The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.8%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) were 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) retreated 0.3%. General Motors (GM) shares were down more than 6% pre-bell after the company narrowed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance. Technology The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 1.1%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.2% lower, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 1.1%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell by 1.9%. AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) shares were down more than 3% in premarket activity after a 3% rise at Monday's close. The company said it is advancing satellite cellular broadband service readiness in the US, Canada, Japan, the UK and Saudi Arabia ahead of yearend 2026. Financial The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.6%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.8% lower. Dime Commercial Bancshares (DCOM) shares were up 1% in early hours activity after the company said it agreed to acquire ES Bancshares in a deal valued at about $58 million to expand its presence in Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York. Energy The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.7%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.9%. ConocoPhillips (COP) stock was up more than 1% before market open after Goldman Sachs and Susquehanna raised their price targets for the company. Commodities Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 1.5% to reach $105.16 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down 2.2% at $2.99 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 1.2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.3% lower. Gold futures for November retreated by 0.4% to $4,144.50 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures declined 0.1% to $57.23 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was down 0.6%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.2% lower.