Broad Market Indicators

Broad-market exchange-traded funds IWM and IVV were higher. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) added 1.2%.

US equity indexes advanced after midday on Wednesday, with technology topping sector charts ahead of the release of the Federal Open Market Committee's January meeting minutes.

Energy

IShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) were each up about 1.4%.

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) rose 1.6%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was up 1.5%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) added 1.4%.

The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) was 0.5% higher, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) gained 1.5%.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) was little changed. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) gained 2.4%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), fell 2.6%.

Commodities

Crude oil was 4.5% higher, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) rose 4.4%. Natural gas eased 0.1%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) lost 1.1%.

Gold on Comex was up 2.2%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) rose 2.2%. Silver added 5.2%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) gained 5.5%.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) eased 0.1%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) were also lower.

The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was 1.1% higher. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) rose 0.2%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) added 1.2%.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) edged down 0.1.%, and iShares US Healthcare (IYH) and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) were softer. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed up 0.5%.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) added 0.1%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) also moved higher.

Cryptocurrency

In midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 2.4%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) shed 2.1%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) declined 2.4%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) lost 0.6%.