Broad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV experienced declines, with the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) dropping 2.4%. US equity indexes declined following unexpected strength in retail sales, which supported Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's recent statements regarding the need for rapid monetary policy easing to boost the economy. In the energy sector, the iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) dipped 0.3%, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) saw a slight loss of 0.1%.
Technology stocks faced a downturn as the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) fell 2.5%. Both iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) reported losses. The SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) decreased by 2.9%, and the iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) experienced a drop of 3%. In the financial sector, however, the Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) gained 0.4%.
The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) saw an increase of 1.3%, while its bearish counterpart, the Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), fell 1.4%. Commodity markets showed mixed results, with crude oil prices declining by 2.4%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) dropping 2.2%.
Natural gas edged up 1%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) reported an increase of 1.2%. Gold prices fell by 0.2% on Comex, and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) lost 0.3%. Silver also declined by 0.5%, with iShares Silver Trust (SLV) easing 0.9%. In the consumer sector, the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) fell 0.5%, as did the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK).
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) experienced a decline of 1.1%, while the retail fund VanEck Vectors Retail ETF (RTH) edged down by 1.2%. The SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) posted a loss of 1%. Health care sector performance was weak, with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) down 1.6%, while iShares US Healthcare (IYH) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) also saw declines.
The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF (IBB) recorded a significant drop of 4.2%. In industrials, the Select Sector SPDR-Industrial (XLI) retreated 0.6%, with Vanguard Industrials (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) also reporting losses. $US30 $US500.