Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Fall Pre-Bell Monday as Investors Await Details on US Sanctions Against Iran

09:19 AM EDT, 08/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR SP 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.2% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.6% higher in Monday's premarket activity as investors await details of US President Donald Trump's planned sanctions on Iran. US stock futures were also lower, with SP 500 Index futures down 0.2%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.5% before the start of regular trading. In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 1.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 3.1%, and Bitcoin Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 2.3%. The Chicago Federal Reserve Bank's monthly National Activity Index fell to a reading of negative 0.08 in July from 0.06 in June, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to negative 0.05 in a Bloomberg survey. Power Play: Technology The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.9%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.5% lower, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.6%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR SP Semiconductor ETF (XSD) declined 1.3% while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell 1.6%. Parsons (PSN) shares were up nearly 2% after the company said it received a $514 million contract option from the United States Department of Defense's Missile Defense Agency to provide engineering and technical support. Winners and Losers: Consumer The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.5%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.1% higher, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was 0.4% lower. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR SP Retail ETF (XRT) was down 1.1%%. Alibaba Group (BABA) shares were down more than 2% pre-bell a day after the company priced a placement of 710 million new shares at 112.70 Hong Kong dollars ($14.38) apiece in Hong Kong for about HK$80 billion in proceeds. Health Care The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.3%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.4%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) fell 3%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 0.3%. GSK's (GSK) stock was down 1% despite the company announcing positive regulatory updates, including approval for Hibsago in Japan and a priority review for Jemperli in the US. Financial The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.1%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.1% lower. Aegon (AEG) shares traded up 1% in early-hours activity after the company said it has increased its H2 share buyback program by 150 million euros ($174.9 million) to 350 million euros, effective Monday. Industrial The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.01%, the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was down 0.1%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) rose 2%. United Airlines (UAL) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after CNBC reported Sunday that the air carrier is set to return to JFK airport through a partnership with JetBlue Airways (JBLU) as early as 2027. JetBlue stock also rose 1%. Energy The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 1%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was 0.3% lower. Eni (E) stock was up more than 1% before market open, extending the previous session's loss. The Financial Times reported Monday that the company is expanding its investment in nuclear fusion, targeting a commercial fusion plant in Europe by the early 2040s or sooner. Commodities Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 1.7% to reach $85.55 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 1.5% at $2.82 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) decreased 1.3%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 3.4% higher. Gold futures for November were up by 0.7% at $4,716.00 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures gained 0.4% to reach $70.05 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) rose 1.1%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.2% lower.