08:29 AM EST, 11/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust ( SPY ) was up 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.6% higher in Wednesday's premarket activity, ahead of Nvidia's ( NVDA ) earnings report and the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.4% before the start of regular trading.

US mortgage applications dropped 5.2% in the week ended Nov. 14 as rising rates pushed refinancing down 7% and purchase activity 2%, Mortgage Bankers Association data showed Wednesday.

October's housing starts and permits report will be released at 8:30 am ET.

The Atlanta Fed Business Inflation Expectations bulletin for November posts at 10 am ET, followed by the weekly EIA petroleum status report at 10:30 am ET.

Minutes of the Federal Reserve's Oct. 28-29 policy-making session will be released at 2 pm ET.

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran and New York President John Williams are slated to speak on Wednesday.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 1.5%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.5% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated by 1.2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) declined by 0.5%.

Power Play:

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) advanced 0.1%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ( VHT ) was flat, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF ( IYH ) gained 0.5%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was up 0.3%.

Agios Pharmaceuticals ( AGIO ) stock was down more than 42% premarket after the company said that its potential sickle cell disease treatment mitapivat failed to meet one of two primary endpoints in a 52-week phase 3 clinical trial.

Winners and Losers:

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.

Plug Power ( PLUG ) stock was down more than 19% before the opening bell after the company said it has priced a private offering of $375 million principal amount of 6.75% convertible senior notes due 2033 at 95% of par value.

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) gained 0.5%, and the iShares US Technology ETF ( IYW ) was 0.1% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF ( IGM ) was up 0.3%. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 0.6%.

Wix.com ( WIX ) shares were down more than 8% in recent premarket activity. The company posted higher Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue, but reported a GAAP-based net loss.

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLP ) was marginally down by 0.03%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) was flat. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF ( IYK ) was inactive, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLY ) gained 0.7%. The VanEck Retail ETF ( RTH ) and the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.

Lowe's (LOW) shares were up more than 6% pre-bell after the company posted higher fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) advanced 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.8%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.7% lower.

Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) shares were up more than 1% pre-bell after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is targeting $10 billion in equity for a new fund aimed at investing in infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF ( IYE ) was inactive, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) was down by 0.9%.

Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ) stock was down more than 1% before Wednesday's opening bell after Piper Sandler and Citigroup cut their price targets on the company.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.4% at $59.29 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up nearly 2% at $4.46 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) fell by 2.9%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 2.2% higher.

Gold futures for December gained 1.2% to reach $4,116.90 an ounce on the Comex, and silver futures were up 3.1% to $52.71 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) advanced by 1%, and the iShares Silver Trust ( SLV ) was 2.6% higher.