Broad-market exchange-traded fund IWM experienced a rise, while IVV declined. The actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) dropped 1.2% as US benchmark stock indexes showed a downward trend midday Wednesday. Traders evaluated a variety of economic indicators released ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. In the Energy sector, the iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) both registered an increase of approximately 0.3%.
Conversely, the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) saw a decrease of 2%, with both iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) also closing lower. The SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) index fell by 2.6%, while the iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) declined by 2.9%. Within the Financial sector, the Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) gained 0.3%, with the Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) climbing nearly 1%.
In contrast, the bearish equivalent, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), suffered a loss of 1.1%. Regarding Commodities, crude oil prices dipped 0.6%, coupled with a 0.4% drop in the United States Oil Fund (USO). Natural gas fell significantly, with a 6.7% decline noted, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) recorded a loss of 7.3%.
Gold, on the other hand, increased by 0.7% on Comex, and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) also saw a modest increase of 0.3%. However, silver prices retreated by 0.9%, where the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) experienced a more considerable fall of 1.4%. In the Consumer sector, the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) gained 0.6%, with both Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) also reporting gains.
On the flip side, the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) fell by 0.6%, although retail funds such as VanEck Vectors Retail ETF (RTH) and SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) advanced. Finally, within Health Care, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) increased by 0.8%, supported by rises in iShares US Healthcare (IYH) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT).
The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF (IBB) also added 0.9%. Meanwhile, the Industrial sector showed slight contractions with Select Sector SPDR-Industrial (XLI) down 0.2%, in addition to losses for Vanguard Industrials (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ)..