In recent pre-market trading, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust was observed rising by 0.9%, while the Invesco QQQ Trust saw an increase of 1.3%. This positive movement comes amid growing confidence that a US government shutdown may be averted. Additionally, US stock futures showcased an upward trend, with S&P 500 Index futures increasing by 0.9%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbing 0.6%, and Nasdaq futures up by 1.2% as the market anticipation builds before the regular trading hours commence. The anticipation of economic insights will peak today as the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment report for March is set to be released at 10 am ET.
Traders will also be looking forward to the weekly Baker Hughes oil-and-gas rig count, which will follow at 1 pm ET, providing vital data on energy sector activities. Analyzing the cryptocurrency landscape, Bitcoin experienced a notable increase, jumping by 3.9%. Not to be overlooked, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF also mirrored this growth, advancing by 3.9%, indicating a potential upsurge in investor interest within the digital asset markets. Delving deeper into sector-specific performance, the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund saw a modest rise of 0.1%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund remained steady with no changes.
The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF was inactive amidst these fluctuations. In contrast, the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund reported a nearly 1% gain. The VanEck Retail ETF remained inactive, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF noted an impressive rise of 1.7%. On a less favorable note, shares of Li Auto fell by more than 6% before the bell rang, following a disappointing report on their Q4 non-GAAP earnings, which failed to meet expectations set by FactSet analysts. Turning to the technology sector, the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund climbed by 1.5%, with the iShares US Technology ETF and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF trailing with increases of 1.7% and 0.8%, respectively.
In the semiconductor space, the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF saw no activity, whereas the iShares Semiconductor ETF experienced a boost of 1.8%. A notable gainer was RLX Technology, whose shares surged over 6% in premarket trading after a strong Q4 revenue report exceeded analyst predictions. In the realm of energy, the iShares US Energy ETF remains inactive while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund saw a solid rise of 0.7%.
However, MRC Global's stock took a hit, down over 4% as it reported an adjusted net loss for Q4, alongside a decline in sales figures. As we look at industrials, the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund inched forward by 0.3%. Notably, BrightView Holdings' stock rose by 2.7% as the company announced its board approved a repurchase of up to $100 million in common stock, reflecting a strategic move aimed at enhancing shareholder value. In health care, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund advanced slightly by 0.3%, while the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund and iShares US Healthcare ETF remained static.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF also saw no change. ANI Pharmaceuticals emerged positively, with its stock up by over 1% following FDA approval of Iluvien for the treatment of chronic non-infectious uveitis affecting the eye's posterior segment. The financial sector witnessed the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund increase by 0.8%.
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares reported a significant uptick of 2%, whereas its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares, dipped by 2%. Bank of America shares are up nearly 1% ahead of the bell, driven by reports of significant layoffs in Hong Kong, a strategic maneuver to streamline its investment banking workforce. In commodities, the front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil marked a rise of 0.8%, reaching $67.10 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Natural gas showed a downward trend, declining by 1.7% to $4.04 per 1 million British Thermal Units. Reflecting similar trends, the United States Oil Fund advanced by 0.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund enjoyed a slight increase of 0.2%. Looking at precious metals, gold futures for April increased by 0.6% to settle at $3,009.50 per ounce on the Comex, with silver futures gaining 1.3% to reach $34.74 per ounce.
The SPDR Gold Shares rose by 0.4%, while the iShares Silver Trust saw a modest increase of 0.5%. Overall, market dynamics appear to be shifting positively as key indicators point towards cautious optimism among investors across various sectors..