In today's market update, broad-market exchange-traded funds experienced declines as the investing landscape shifted. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and the iShares S&P 500 ETF (IVV) both reported losses. The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), a favorite among technology investors, saw a decrease of 0.8%.
U.S. equity indexes faced downward pressure, erasing earlier gains as government bond yields turned the corner, with a notable appreciation of the dollar observed during midday trading on Thursday. In the energy sector, the iShares U.S. Energy ETF (IYE) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) both posted a gain of approximately 1%.
Technology stocks did not fare as well, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) experiencing a drop of 0.9%. Meanwhile, the iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) were also in decline. However, SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) managed to gain 0.7%, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) recorded a slight increase of 0.1%.
The financial sector saw mixed results; the Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) was down 0.5%. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) fell significantly by 1.6%, while its bearish counterpart, the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), climbed by 1.6%. On the commodities front, crude oil prices rose by 2.3%, with the United States Oil Fund (USO) exhibiting an increase of 2.1%.
Natural gas also showed strength, gaining 3.2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) rose by 2%. Gold prices saw an uptick of 1% on the Comex, with SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) climbing 1.1%. Silver followed suit, increasing by 2.1%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) advanced by 1.8%. Consumer sectors presented a mixed picture as well.
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) slipped 0.4%, with the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) also underperforming. Similarly, the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) dropped by 1.6%. Retail funds such as the VanEck Vectors Retail ETF (RTH) and SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) were also in the red.
Shifts were noted in health care too, where the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) fell slightly by 0.1%. In contrast, both the iShares U.S. Healthcare (IYH) and the Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) edged higher, with iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rising by 0.6%. In the industrial sector, the Select Sector SPDR-Industrial (XLI) experienced a decline of 0.4%, with the Vanguard Industrials (VIS) and iShares U.S.
Industrials (IYJ) also weakening. As the day unfolds, attention remains on the performance of the $US30 and $US500 indices as traders navigate these fluctuations..