08:23 AM EDT, 04/09/2024 (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 Tuesday's premarket activity, as traders exercise caution ahead of inflation data due Wednesday.

US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping marginally, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.2% before the start of regular trading.

The March NFIB US Small Business Index dropped to its lowest level since 2012, with inflation being a major concern. Small business owners are facing economic challenges, with inflation cited as the top issue, while plans for hiring have slightly decreased despite significant job openings.

In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 1.4% and the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.6% lower.

Power Play:

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) advanced 0.01%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.3% while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was also inactive.

Acrivon Therapeutics ( ACRV ) shares surged 77% in recent Tuesday premarket activity after the company said it signed a securities purchase agreement to sell 8.2 million common shares at $8.50 apiece in a private placement for gross proceeds of roughly $130 million.

Winners and Losers:

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) was marginally up by 0.03%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) was 0.4% higher. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK), the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), and the VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) were inactive, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was also inactive.

Tilray Brands ( TLRY ) traded down more than 14% pre-bell after the cannabis products and foods maker reported breakeven adjusted fiscal Q3 earnings per share, down from $0.01 a year earlier.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.2%, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was up 0.2% higher.

Trio Petroleum ( TPET ) was down more than 10% before Tuesday's opening bell after the company disclosed the terms for retiring $2.6 million in convertible notes issued in two tranches in October 2023.

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was flat. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.3%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.5% lower.

Corebridge Financial ( CRBG ) was up 3% pre-bell Tuesday after the company said it has completed the sale of its UK life insurance business, operating as AIG Life, to Aviva.

Industrial

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) advanced 0.04%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS), and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) were inactive.

Rocket Lab USA ( RKLB ) gained 2.3% before the opening bell after the company said late Monday it received a $14.5 million task order from the US Space Force to launch an electron mission from Launch Complex 2.

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) advanced 0.04%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was flat, 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 0.4%.

BlackBerry (BB) was up nearly 4% in recent Tuesday premarket activity after the company unveiled a new precision robotics platform in collaboration with chipmaker AMD (AMD).

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down by 0.2% at $86.29 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas advanced 2% to $1.88 per 1 million British Thermal Units. United States Oil Fund (USO) lost 0.3%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.9% higher.

Gold futures for June advanced 0.9% to $2,371.30 an ounce on the Comex, and silver futures were up by 1% to $28.08 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) gained 0.6%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.9% higher.