08:38 AM EDT, 07/30/2025 (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) advanced 0.2% in Wednesday's premarket activity, ahead of the Federal Reserve's latest rate decision due later in the day.

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

US mortgage applications declined 3.8% in the week ended July 25 as both refinancing and purchase activity fell despite a drop in rates, Mortgage Bankers Association data showed Wednesday.

ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 104,000 increase in July, above expectations compiled by Bloomberg for an increase of 76,000.

Advance estimate for Q2 gross domestic product showed 3.0% growth, compared with expectations for a 2.6% increase and following a 0.5% drop in Q1.

The pending home sales index for June will be released at 10 am ET, followed by the weekly EIA domestic petroleum inventories report at 10:30 am ET.

The Fed is due to announce its latest monetary policy decision at 2 pm ET, with Chair Jerome Powell scheduled to hold a press conference at 2:30 pm.

In premarket action, bitcoin was up by 0.5%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.6% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) rose 0.9%, while the Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.

Power Play:

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLP ) was up slightly, and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) was 0.1% higher. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF ( IYK ) was inactive, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLY ) gained 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF ( RTH ) was inactive, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF ( XRT ) was down 0.1%.

New Oriental Education & Technology Group ( EDU ) shares were down more than 10% pre-bell after the company provided lower-than-expected guidance for fiscal Q1 and 2026.

Winners and Losers:

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) advanced 0.2%, and the iShares US Technology ETF ( IYW ) was marginally higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF ( IGM ) was flat. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF ( XSD ) was flat, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 0.5%.

Check Point Software Technologies ( CHKP ) shares were down more than 5% in recent premarket activity even after the company reported higher Q2 non-GAAP earnings and revenue.

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) advanced 0.4%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ( VHT ) and the iShares US Healthcare ETF ( IYH ) were inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was steady.

Evotec (EVO) stock was up more than 3% premarket after the company said it signed a nonbinding agreement with Sandoz for the potential sale of the Just-Evotec Biologics EU site in Toulouse, France, for roughly $300 million in cash.

Industrial

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLI ) added 0.3%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund ( VIS ) and the iShares US Industrials ETF ( IYJ ) were inactive.

Vertiv ( VRT ) stock was up more than 6% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and net sales, and raised its 2025 guidance.

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) retreated 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was down 0.6%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.5% higher.

Banco Santander (SAN) shares were down over 2% pre-bell Wednesday after the company reported Q2 earnings and revenue.

Energy

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

Expand Energy ( EXE ) stock was up 0.8% before Wednesday's opening bell after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue late Tuesday.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.1% to $69.28 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas fell 1.5% to $3.09 per 1 million British Thermal Units. United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.3% lower, while the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) retreated 2.5%.

Gold futures for August were 0.02% higher at $3,381.80 an ounce on the Comex, while silver futures were down 0.7% to $38.02 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) advanced by 0.1%, and the iShares Silver Trust ( SLV ) was 0.7% lower.