08:55 AM EDT, 03/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.9% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 1.1% higher in Wednesday's premarket activity amid hopes of a truce after reports that the US sent a ceasefire plan to Iran.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.9%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.9%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 1% before the start of regular trading.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said mortgage applications declined in the week ended March 20 due to an increase in average 30-year fixed mortgage rates to their highest level since October 2025.

The US current account deficit narrowed to $190.75 billion in Q4, below expectations of $208.5 billion and down from $239.14 billion in the prior period.

US import prices rose 1.3% in February, exceeding expectations for a 0.6% increase and accelerating from a 0.6% gain in the previous month, while export prices advanced 1.5%, also above forecasts for a 0.6% rise and up from a 0.6% increase previously.

Weekly petroleum stocks data will be released at 10:30 am ET.

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran is scheduled to speak on Wednesday.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 3.7%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 3.4% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 3.4%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) retreated by 0.02%.

Power Play:

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 1.4%, and the iShares US Technology ETF ( IYW ) was 1.4% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF ( IGM ) was inactive. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF ( XSD ) increased by 2%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1.6%.

Arm Holdings ( ARM ) shares were up more than 1% in Wednesday's premarket activity after Chief Financial Officer Jason Child said late Tuesday the company expects "material revenue" from its first in-house chip starting in 2028, with "an exponential ramp" to roughly $15 billion in 2031.

Winners and Losers:

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLV ) advanced 0.6%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ( VHT ) was up 0.9%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF ( IYH ) and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) were inactive.

Terns Pharma (TERN) stock was up more than 5% premarket, while Merck ( MRK ) shares were 0.5% higher after Merck ( MRK ) agreed to acquire Terns for $53 per share in cash, valuing the company at about $6.7 billion.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.9%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 2.8%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 2.7% lower.

HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) shares were up more than 3% pre-bell after reports that the company named Jack Yang as its finance chief for Asia and the Middle East.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLI ) advanced 1.2%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ( VIS ) and the iShares US Industrials ETF ( IYJ ) were inactive.

Planet Labs (PL) stock was up more than 3% before the opening bell after Planet Labs Germany said it has started hiring staff to operate its upcoming satellite production site in Berlin.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.4% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) gained 2.6%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF ( IYK ) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) advanced 1.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF ( RTH ) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was inactive.

Diageo ( DEO ) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell after its United Spirits unit said it has agreed to sell its entire equity stake in Royal Challengers Sports to a consortium including Blackstone's (BX) BXPE perpetual private equity strategy for 166.6 billion Indian rupees ($1.78 billion).

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF ( IYE ) retreated by 0.7%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLE ) was down by 1.2%.

Valero Energy ( VLO ) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after Reuters reported the company is looking to restart its Port Arthur oil refinery in Texas this week after it was shut down on Tuesday due to an explosion.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell by 5.6% to $87.15 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas declined by 1.7% to $2.89 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was down by 4.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 1.5% lower.

Gold futures for March advanced by 4.1% to $4,613.80 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures increased 5.5% to $73.39 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) gained by 4%, and the iShares Silver Trust ( SLV ) rose 5%.