08:23 AM EDT, 05/16/2024 (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 0.2% higher in Thursday's premarket activity ahead of a slew of economic data releasing before the market opens.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 1.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.9%, and Nasdaq futures rising 1.4% before the start of regular trading.

Economic reports slated for an 8:30 am ET release include the weekly jobless claims report, the April housing starts and permits bulletin, the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index for May, and the April import and export prices report.

The April industrial production bulletin posts at 9:15 am ET, and the weekly EIA natural gas report posts at 10:30 am ET.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michael Barr and Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin speak at 10 am ET, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker at 10:30 am ET, and Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester at 12 pm ET.

In premarket action, bitcoin was up by 0.1% and the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF ( BITO ) was 0.3% higher.

Power Play:

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) advanced 0.1%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ( VHT ) and the iShares US Healthcare ETF ( IYH ) were inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) was also inactive.

Centogene ( CNTG ) shares were up more than 37% premarket after the company reported late Wednesday an expanded partnership with Lifera involving a $15 million purchase of accounts receivables and increased investment in their joint venture, providing roughly $20 million in funding to support Centogene ( CNTG ).

Winners and Losers:

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLF ) advanced 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.2%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.4% lower.

Chubb ( CB ) stock was up more than 9% pre-bell after a regulatory filing showed Wednesday that Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) owned 25.9 million shares of the insurer valued at $6.72 billion.

Industrial

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

ATS (ATS) shares were up more than 10% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q4 revenue.

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLK ) was up 0.3%, while the iShares US Technology ETF ( IYW ) and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF ( IGM ) were inactive. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF ( XSD ) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF ( SOXX ) rose by 0.2%.

NICE (NICE) stock was down more than 6% in recent Thursday premarket activity after the company reported higher Q1 financial results but said its Chief Executive Officer Barak Eilam plans to step down on Dec. 31.

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLP ) was up 0.6%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) was inactive. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF ( IYK ) was inactive, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLY ) gained 0.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF ( RTH ) was up by 0.2%, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF ( XRT ) was flat.

Walmart ( WMT ) shares were up more than 4% pre-bell Thursday after the company posted higher fiscal Q1 financial results.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF ( IYE ) was inactive, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) was down by 0.4%.

Seadrill ( SDRL ) was up more than 3% before Thursday's opening bell after the company reported a definitive agreement to sell three jack-up rigs and its equity interest in a joint venture to Gulf Drilling International for $338 million. The company also said its board has authorized the expansion of its current share buyback program by up to $500 million over a two-year period.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced 0.1% to $78.70 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 0.8% at $2.44 per 1 million British Thermal Units. United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.2% lower, while the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) gained 1.1%.

Gold futures for June lost 0.2% to reach $2,389.60 an ounce on the Comex, while silver futures were up 0.6% at $29.90 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) fell 0.1%, and iShares Silver Trust ( SLV ) was 0.2% lower.