The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.9% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 1.5% higher in Thursday's premarket activity, buoyed by optimism over a potential US-UK agreement.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.9%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 1.3% before the start of regular trading.

The weekly jobless claims bulletin and the Q1 productivity and costs report will be released at 8:30 am ET.

The March wholesale inventories report posts at 10 am ET, followed by the weekly EIA natural gas supplies statement at 10:30 am ET.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up 3.7% and the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 3.8% higher.

Power Play:

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was up by 1.3%.

Centrus Energy (LEU) stock was up more than 14% before Thursday's opening bell after the company swung to Q1 net income.

Winners and Losers:

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) retreated 0.4%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) and the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) were inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was flat.

QuidelOrtho (QDEL) stock was up more than 7% premarket after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings.

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) advanced 1.4%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 2.2% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 1.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) rose 2%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) was 1.6% higher.

Remitly Global (RELY) shares were up more than 6% in recent Thursday premarket activity after the company reported it swung to Q1 earnings amid higher revenue.

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) advanced 1.3%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 3.9%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 3.8% lower.

Root (ROOT) shares were up more than 5% pre-bell Thursday after the company swung to Q1 earnings and posted higher revenue.

Industrial

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) advanced 1.2%, and the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 1.2%, while the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.

CoreCivic (CXW) stock was up more than 5% before the opening bell after the company reported higher-than-expected Q1 normalized funds from operations and revenue.

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) was up 0.4%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) was inactive. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) gained 1.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) rose 1.6%.

Six Flags Entertainment (FUN) shares were down more than 1% pre-bell after the company reported a fiscal Q1 net loss.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 1.7%, reaching $59.04 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas rose 1% to $3.66 per 1 million British Thermal Units. United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 1.7%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.9% higher.

Gold futures for June were down 1.3% at $3,348.20 an ounce on the Comex, while silver futures retreated 0.8% to $32.54 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) declined 0.9%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.3% lower.