Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell Thursday Amid Rising Oil Prices, Reduced Rate-Cut Expectations

08:49 AM EDT, 03/19/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.4%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.5% lower in Thursday's premarket activity as investors react to rising oil prices and a more cautious Federal Reserve outlook on rate cuts.

US stock futures were also lower, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.6% before the start of regular trading.

US initial jobless claims totaled 205,000, below expectations for 215,000 and down from 213,000 in the prior week.

The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index came in at 18.1 in March, exceeding expectations for 8.0 and up from 16.3 in the previous month.

The new home sales report and the business and wholesale inventories bulletins for January will be released at 10 am ET.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 1.3%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.4% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated 0.9%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 0.2%.

Power Play:

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated nearly 1%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was down 0.6%, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) declined by 0.5%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 1.1% lower, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell by 1.7%.

N-able (NABL) shares were up more than 4% in premarket activity after the company said that it has been named the official cybersecurity partner of Manchester City.

Winners and Losers:

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.1% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was down 0.4%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) declined by 0.3%.

Ferrari (RACE) shares were down more than 2% pre-bell after multiple media outlets reported the company has suspended most deliveries in the Middle East due to the ongoing war in Iran.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated 0.2%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.01%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) gained by 0.9%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was inactive.

Alvotech (ALVO) stock was up more than 2% premarket after the company reported higher Q4 revenue.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated by 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 1.1%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was up 1.1%.

UP Fintech (TIGR) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q4 non-GAAP net income and revenue.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated by 0.5%, the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was marginally down by 0.02%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was 0.2% lower

NuScale Power (SMR) stock was down more than 2% before the opening bell after falling 3.3% in the prior session. The company and Ebara Elliott Energy said Thursday they are collaborating on a research program to demonstrate and field test a commercial-scale high-temperature steam compressor that integrates NuScale power modules with petrochemical plants.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.1%.

BP (BP) stock was up more than 1% before Thursday's opening bell after the company said it has agreed to sell its Gelsenkirchen refinery and related assets in Germany to Klesch Group as part of efforts to simplify its portfolio and strengthen its balance sheet.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced by 1.3% to $97.64 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas rose by 3.8% to $3.18 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down by 1.4%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.01% lower.

Gold futures for March fell 5% to $4,644.90 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures decreased by 8.9% to $70.25 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) retreated by 4.7%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 9% lower.

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