08:52 AM EST, 11/12/2025 (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 as hopes grow for a quick resolution to the US government shutdown.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.6% before the start of regular trading.

US mortgage applications edged up 0.6% in the week ended Nov. 7 as higher rates curbed refinancing by 3% but purchase applications rose 6%, Mortgage Bankers Association data showed Wednesday.

Federal Reserve New York President John Williams, Philadelphia President Anna Paulson, Gov. Christopher Waller, Atlanta President Raphael Bostic, Gov. Stephen Miran, and Boston President Susan Collins are slated to speak on Wednesday.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 2.4%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 2.2% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) gained 3.4%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was up 1.5%.

Power Play:

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLP ) was down 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 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF ( RTH ) and the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.

Jumia Technologies ( JMIA ) shares were down more than 21% pre-bell after the company posted lower-than-expected Q3 revenue.

Winners and Losers:

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) advanced 0.2%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ( VHT ) gained 0.2%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF ( IYH ) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.1% higher.

Evotec (EVO) stock was up more than 4% premarket after the company said it had received a $5 million milestone payment from Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY ) following the US Food and Drug Administration's acceptance of an investigational new drug application for a product candidate under the companies' partnership. Bristol Myers stock was marginally higher.

Energy

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

Venture Global ( VG ) stock was up more than 4% before Wednesday's opening bell after the company executed a new long-term liquefied natural gas sales and purchase agreement with Japan-based Mitsui.

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) advanced 0.04%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.3%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.2% higher.

Circle Internet Group ( CRCL ) shares were down more than 3% pre-bell even after the company posted forecast-beating Q3 earnings and revenue.

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) advanced 0.9%, and the iShares US Technology ETF ( IYW ) was 0.9% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF ( IGM ) was up 0.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) gained 0.7%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1.5%.

STMicroelectronics ( STM ) shares were up more than 3% in recent premarket activity after CEO Jean-Marc Chery said at a Morgan Stanley conference that he expects Q1 revenue to increase 20% compared with the previous year.

Industrial

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

TIC Solutions ( TIC ) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after the company posted a Q3 net loss, counter to expectations of earnings.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated 1% to $60.40 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down 1.5% at $4.50 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) declined by 0.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was 0.3% lower.

Gold futures for December gained by 0.7% to reach $4,143.90 an ounce on the Comex, and silver futures were up 1.8% at $51.63 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares ( GLD ) advanced by 0.04%, and the iShares Silver Trust ( SLV ) was 1% higher.