Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell Friday Amid AI Spending Concerns

09:13 AM EDT, 10/23/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.2% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.3% lower in Friday's premarket activity as concerns about the cost of artificial intelligence investments weighed on technology stocks. US stock futures were also lower, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.6%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.1% before the start of regular trading. The S&P Global's (SPGI) flash purchasing managers' index for October will be released at 9:45 am ET, followed by the final University of Michigan consumer sentiment report for the same month at 10 am ET. The weekly Baker Hughes oil-and-gas rig count posts at 1 pm ET. In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.2%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat. Power Play: Technology The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.2%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.2% higher, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.03%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) lost 0.03%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 0.1%. RingCentral (RNG) shares were up 15% after the company reported higher Q3 financial results and lifted its fiscal 2026 guidance. Winners and Losers: Consumer The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.4%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) retreated 0.3%, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was up 0.5%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.5%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.1% higher. Deckers Outdoors (DECK) shares were down 8% as the company cut its fiscal 2027 sales outlook. Financial The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.5%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 1.1%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 1.4% higher. Flagstar Bank (FLG) shares were down 8% after the company reported lower-than-expected Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue. Healthcare The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated 0.6%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was flat, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) gained 0.4%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was up 0.2%. Moderna (MRNA) stock was down 3% following a nearly 18% decline in the prior close after media reports emerged about a possible leak of data on its highly anticipated personalized melanoma vaccine developed with Merck (MRK). Merck stock was also trending lower. Industrial The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated 0.4%, the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was flat and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive. Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX) shares were 2% higher in premarket activity amid reports of advanced discussions with major cell tower owners to secure space on 80,000 US cell sites. Energy The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) gained 0.2%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.7%. Eni (E) stock was up more than 2% after the company reported higher Q3 earnings and sales. Commodities Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 1.8% to reach $101.25 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down 2.5% at $2.73 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 1.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1% lower. Gold futures for November retreated by 0.4% to $4,044.00 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures fell 2% to $53.89 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up 0.1%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 1.4% lower.