08:18 AM EDT, 07/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ( SPY ) was up 0.1% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.1% higher in Friday's premarket activity as strong consumer spending and improved business surveys boost confidence.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.02%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.03%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.

The housing starts and permits report for June will be released at 8:30 am ET, followed by the July consumer sentiment report from the University of Michigan at 10 am ET.

The weekly Baker Hughes domestic oil-and-gas rig count is slated to be released at 1 pm ET.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.04% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) was up 6%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) rose 7%.

Power Play:

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was flat. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.2%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.1% lower.

Interactive Brokers ( IBKR ) shares were up 5% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and net revenue.

Winners and Losers:

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF ( IYE ) was inactive, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) was up by 0.7%.

Chevron ( CVX ) stock was up more than 3% before Friday's opening bell after an International Chamber of Commerce tribunal decision allowed Chevron ( CVX ) to move forward with its $53 billion proposed acquisition of Hess (HES).

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLP ) retreated marginally by 0.01%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) was down 1.4%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF ( IYK ) , the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLY ) , and the VanEck Retail ETF ( RTH ) were inactive. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF ( XRT ) was flat.

Autoliv ( ALV ) shares were down 2% pre-bell. The company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and net revenue.

Industrial

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLI ) advanced 0.1% while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ( VIS ) and the iShares US Industrials ETF ( IYJ ) were inactive.

3M Co. ( MMM ) stock was up more than 2% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) advanced 0.1%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ( VHT ) retreated 0.02%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF ( IYH ) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was flat.

GSK (GSK) stock was down nearly nearly 1% premarket after falling more than 4% at Thursday's close. The company said Thursday the US Food and Drug Administration's oncologic drugs advisory committee voted against the benefit-risk profile of Blenrep combinations at the proposed dosage for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) gained 0.1%, and the iShares US Technology ETF ( IYW ) was 0.3% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF ( IGM ) was inactive. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF ( XSD ) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 0.1%.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 1% at $68.23 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas advanced by 0.3% to reach $3.55 per 1 million British Thermal Units. United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.1% higher, while the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) gained 0.3%.

Gold futures for August advanced 0.4% to reach $3,359.70 an ounce on the Comex, while silver futures were up 1.1% at $38.72 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) gained by 0.5%, and the iShares Silver Trust ( SLV ) was 0.7% higher.