In the latest trading session, broad-market exchange-traded funds such as IWM and IVV experienced a downturn, while the highly traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) managed to gain a slight 0.2%. This trading day revealed a clear decline in US equity indexes, with the technology sector taking a significant hit amidst a notable rally in gold futures by midday on Monday.
Energy sector exchange-traded funds were also not spared, with the iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each dropping approximately 0.3%. In the technology facet, the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) fell by 1.0%; additionally, iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) reported lower performance figures.
The SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) faced a 0.7% decline, while iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) saw a challenging drop of 0.9%. Turning to the financial landscape, the Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) observed a modest increase of 0.4%. Correspondingly, the Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) experienced a rise of 0.5%, although its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), dipped by 0.8%.
Commodities painted a varied picture, with crude oil prices slipping by 0.2% and the United States Oil Fund (USO) indicating a further fall of 0.5%. Conversely, the natural gas market was more favorable, showing an impressive advance of 5.9%, with the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) following suit with a rise of 5.7%.
In terms of precious metals, gold prices surged by 1.9% on the Comex, resulting in the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) gaining 1.3%. Silver also added to this rally, increasing by 2.9%, while iShares Silver Trust (SLV) incrementally rose by 2.1%. In the consumer sector, Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) increased by 0.8%.
Notably, both Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) reported gains. However, the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) saw a small decline of 0.7%. The retail fund VanEck Vectors Retail ETF (RTH) was down by 0.2%, with SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) declining 1.2%.
In the health care sector, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) rose by 0.9%. iShares US Healthcare (IYH) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) posted increases, while iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slipped slightly, down by 0.8%. The industrial sector revealed mixed results, with Select Sector SPDR-Industrial (XLI) decreasing by 0.2%.
Meanwhile, Vanguard Industrials (VIS) saw a modest drop of 0.3%, although iShares US Industrials (IYJ) gained 0.2%. Overall, this trading day illustrates a complex spectrum of performance across various sectors with notable shifts in commodity values and equity index behaviors..