Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Wednesday as AI Stocks Rebound Amid Corporate Earnings

09:11 AM EDT, 10/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.2% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.6% higher in Wednesday's premarket activity as strong results from SpaceX (SPCX) and upbeat forecasts from Super Micro Computer (SMCI) lifted AI-related stocks. US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.6% before the start of regular trading. Mortgage applications fell by 5.3% in the week ended Oct. 16 due to declines in both refinancing activity and new home applications despite the first drop in 30-year fixed mortgage rates in two months, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. The weekly oil stocks data will be released at 10:30 am ET. In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 1.2%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 1.6%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) fell 60%. Power Play: Technology The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 1.1%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.5% higher, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was inactive. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 2%. Super Micro Computer (SMCI) stock was up 12% after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 preliminary revenue and raised its guidance for gross margins for the quarter ended Sept. 30. Winners and Losers: Industrial The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.6%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) were inactive. SpaceX (SPCX) stock was up more than 8% after CEO Elon Musk said SpaceX and Tesla (TSLA) have formed special committees to explore a potential merger. SpaceX posted upbeat Q3 results overnight. Tesla shares were 1% higher premarket. Healthcare The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated 1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.1%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 0.2%. Intuitive Surgical's (ISRG) shares were down 6% after the company adjusted its global da Vinci procedure growth target range for 2026 and reported a $450 million settlement charge that outweighed its Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue beat. Consumer The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.6%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) were inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.2%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive. Philip Morris International (PM) shares were up more than 3% pre-bell after the company lowered its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance. Financial The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.5%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.4% lower. Capital One Financial (COF) shares were up 3% in early-hours activity after the company reported higher Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue. Energy The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down marginally by 0.01%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.1%. Vistra (VST) stock was up more than 2% before market open, extending the 0.4% gain from the prior close. Morgan Stanley and Raymond James cut their price targets for the company to $226 and $176, respectively. Commodities Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 0.7% to reach $98.49 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down 3.5% at $2.86 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 0.01%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 4.6% lower. Gold futures for November advanced by 0.4% to $4,158.80 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures declined 0.5% to $57.72 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up 0.3%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.6% lower.