The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.6% higher in Thursday's premarket activity as upbeat bank earnings and chip industry strength counterbalance trade-war jitters.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.6% before the start of regular trading.

The ongoing US federal government shutdown delayed the release of economic data scheduled for today, including September's producer price and retail sales reports, and the weekly jobless claims bulletin.

The Philadelphia Fed's manufacturing index dropped to negative 12.8 in October from 23.2 in September, falling sharply below expectations for a reading of 10, according to Bloomberg data on Thursday.

The New York Fed's services index fell to negative 23.6 in October from negative 19.4 in September, signaling a deeper contraction in the region's services activity.

The October housing market index will be released at 10 am ET.

The EIA national natural gas and petroleum market reports are scheduled to be released at 10:30 am and 12 pm, respectively.

Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin, Fed Governor Christopher Waller, Fed Governor Michael Barr, Fed Governor Stephen Miran, Fed Vice Chair Michelle Bowman, and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari are slated to speak on Thursday.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.1% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) was up 1.5%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was down 0.7%.

Power Play:

Industrial

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) advanced 0.4% while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) were inactive.

Dragonfly Energy (DFLI) stock was down more than 22% before the opening bell after the company priced a $55.4 million public offering of 36 million shares and pre-funded warrants to buy 5 million shares.

Winners and Losers:

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) advanced 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.4%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.3% lower.

Charles Schwab (SCHW) shares were up more than 4% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) gained 0.8%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.8% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.3%. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) increased 1.3%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1.3%.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) shares were up more than 2% in recent premarket activity after the company reported higher Q3 earnings and revenue.

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) was up 0.1%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) advanced 0.3%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) gained 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.

Jack in the Box (JACK) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell after the company said it has signed a deal to sell its Del Taco unit to Yadav Enterprises for $115 million in cash.

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) advanced 0.1%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) gained 0.01% while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was up 0.3%.

Sanofi (SNY) stock was up more than 1% premarket after the company signed a collaboration and license agreement with EVOQ Therapeutics on research activities related to autoimmune diseases.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 0.6%, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was up by 0.3%.

Diversified Energy (DEC) stock was up more than 1% before Thursday's opening bell after West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said the state is setting up a financial assurance fund for retiring oil and gas wells in partnership with the gas and oil production company.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced 0.8% to $58.70 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas gained by 0.7% to reach $3.04 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was 0.3% higher, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was up 0.2%.

Gold futures for December advanced 1.3% to $4,257.90 an ounce on the Comex, while silver futures advanced by 1.8% to $52.29 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) gained by 0.8%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 0.4% lower.