Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Wednesday Ahead of FOMC Meeting Minutes

08:29 AM EST, 02/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.3% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) advanced 0.4% in Wednesday's premarket activity, ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes.

US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.01%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.

US mortgage applications increased 2.8% in the week ended Feb. 13, rebounding from the prior week's decline as 30-year fixed rates moved lower, Mortgage Bankers Association data showed Wednesday.

The durable goods orders bulletin for December and the housing starts and permits reports for November and December will be released at 8:30 am ET.

The industrial production report for January posts at 9:15 am, followed by the Atlanta Fed Business Inflation Expectations report for February at 10 am.

The Federal Reserve will release minutes from its late January policy session at 2 pm ET.

In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 0.5%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.5% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated by 1.3%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) declined by 0.02%.

Power Play:

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.7%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) rose by 1.4%.

HF Sinclair (DINO) stock was down more than 9% before Wednesday's opening bell after falling 1.2% at the prior close. The company swung to Q4 adjusted earnings but lower revenue, and said its CEO, Tim Go, is taking a voluntary leave of absence.

Winners and Losers:

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 0.5%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was inactive, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.2%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) advanced by 0.6%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1%.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares were down more than 7% in recent premarket activity after the company overnight reported a cut to fiscal 2026 earnings guidance, taking the shine off its Q2 beat.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.1%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was flat. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was down 0.2%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.4%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.01% higher.

Andersons (ANDE) shares were up 1.5% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q4 adjusted earnings late Tuesday.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.5%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower.

Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR) shares were down more than 5% pre-bell after the company priced and upsized a secondary offering of about 4.4 million shares of Series A Blockchain Common Stock at $32.00 per share.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) was down 0.1%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was flat, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was flat.

Insulet (PODD) stock was up more than 5% premarket after the company reported higher Q4 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.5% while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) were inactive.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after the company said it received about $277 million in contracts from an international customer for the delivery of 30-millimeter turrets and munitions.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 2.7% to $63.98 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas fell 1.5% to $2.99 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) gained by 2.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2.6% lower.

Gold futures for March advanced by 0.9% to $4,949.80 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures were up 2.5% to $75.39 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) gained by 1.4%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 3.2% higher.

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