-- 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 Thursday's premarket activity amid incoming economic data releases.
US stock futures were also edging higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.2% before the start of regular trading.
US initial jobless claims came in at 207,000, compared with expectations of 213,000 and a prior reading of 218,000.
The New York Fed's regional services index for April was negative 14.0, versus expectations of negative 20.0 and a prior reading of negative 22.6.
The Philadelphia Fed's regional manufacturing index for April rose to 26.7, above expectations of 10.0 and a prior reading of 18.1.
The industrial production data for March will be released at 9:15 am ET, followed by the weekly natural gas data at 10:30 am ET.
Fed Governor Stephen Miran is slated to speak on Thursday.
In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.8% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated by 2.1%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.
Power Play:
Health Care
The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.01%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.7%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slipped 0.1%.
Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) stock was up more than 9% premarket after US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. signaled plans to ease restrictions on certain peptides.
Winners and Losers:
Consumer
The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.1%, and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was flat. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was flat. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.
Alibaba (BABA) shares were up more than 3% pre-bell after Bloomberg reported the retailer has launched a new AI model that creates 3D environments and interactive videos, expanding into gaming and content to compete more directly with Tencent.
Technology
The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 0.4%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.1% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 1.2%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) gained 0.6%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) declined by 0.5%.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) shares were down more than 1% in Thursday's premarket activity even after the company reported higher Q1 earnings and net revenue.
Energy
The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 0.02% while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.02%.
TotalEnergies (TTE) stock was up more than 1% before Thursday's opening bell after the company said that Q1 exploration and production results are expected to rise significantly, supported by higher oil prices and contributions from new projects.
Financial
The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.02%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.1%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.02% higher.
Travelers (TRV) shares were down more than 1% pre-bell after the company's Q1 revenue trailed the estimates of analysts polled by FactSet.
Industrial
The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.3%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) retreated 0.3% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.
Willdan Group (WLDN) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after the company was awarded a $27 million, three-year contract with the New York City Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice to redesign and implement the NYC Accelerator program.
Commodities
Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained by 0.2% to reach $91.45 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas retreated by 0.2% to $2.61 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 0.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.5% higher.
Gold futures for May were up by 0.3% at $4,840.00 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures gained by 0.1% to reach $79.68 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.4% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) advanced by 0.3%.