Exchange-Traded Funds Higher, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Tuesday Ahead of US Federal Reserve Meeting

08:56 AM EDT, 03/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.2% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.1% higher in Tuesday's premarket activity, ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee's meeting.

US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gaining 0.04%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.2% before the start of regular trading.

The pending home sales index for last month will be released at 10 am ET.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.2%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.2% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated by 0.03%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) fell by 1.5%.

Power Play:

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated by 0.01%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was down 0.03% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was 0.01% lower.

Elbit Systems (ESLT) stock was up more than 6% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q4 non-GAAP earnings and revenue.

Winners and Losers:

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.01%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) retreated by 0.02%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was up 0.2%.

Monte Rosa Therapeutics (GLUE) stock was down more than 3% premarket after the company reported a Q4 net loss and lower revenue.

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) was down 0.7%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.03% lower, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was flat. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) gained 0.6%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) increased by 0.2%.

Uber Technologies (UBER) shares were up more than 3% in Tuesday's premarket activity after the company and Nvidia (NVDA) said late Monday they plan to roll out a global fleet of autonomous vehicles powered entirely by L4 software from the chipmaker starting in H1 2027. Nvidia's (NVDA) stock was edging 0.2% higher pre-bell.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) gained 0.4%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 1%.

Eni (E) stock was up more than 3% before the opening bell after the company said that the first gas delivery had been made from New Gas Consortium's Quiluma field offshore Angola.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated by 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.1%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1% higher.

Janus Henderson Group (JHG) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell after Victory Capital (VCTR) said it sent a revised "superior" proposal to acquire Janus for $40 per share in cash and 0.250 Victory Capital (VCTR) common shares for each Janus Henderson (JHG) share, up by $10 per share from its previous proposal. Victory stock was 0.01% lower in premarket activity.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up by 0.02%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was down 0.3%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) gained 0.4%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.2%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.

Atour Lifestyle (ATAT) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q4 adjusted net income and revenue.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 3.6% to $96.88 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas gained by 1% to reach $3.05 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up by 3%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.5% higher.

Gold futures for March gained by 0.1% to reach $5,009.40 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures were up by 0.3% at $80.52 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) advanced by 0.1%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.02% lower.

MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.