The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.2%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.7% higher in Wednesday's premarket activity as investors welcomed a July consumer inflation reading that matched forecasts and continued strength in AI-related technology shares.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.7% before the start of regular trading.

Mortgage applications rose by 3.6% in the week ended Aug. 7 after a 2.9% decline in the previous week as 30-year fixed mortgage rates declined, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday.

The US seasonally adjusted consumer price index, a measure of inflation, gained 0.1% in July, as expected and following a 0.4% decrease in June, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.

Weekly crude oil stocks data will be released at 10:30 am ET.

The US Treasury is due to publish its monthly budget statement for July at 2 pm ET.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 1.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.2% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was down 0.7%.

Power Play:

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated 0.2%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was 0.02% lower, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advanced 0.1%

Definium Therapeutics (DFTX) stock was up more than 17% premarket after the company said its phase 3 Voyage study of DT120 lysergide orally disintegrating tablets in adults with generalized anxiety disorder met its primary endpoint.

Winners and Losers:

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) rose 1%, the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 1% higher, and the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was inactive. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was up 2.1%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 2.1%.

Octave Intelligence (OCTV) shares were down more than 14% in premarket activity after the company posted lower Q2 revenue.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.03%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.2%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.1% higher.

Marex Group (MRX) shares were up 8% in early-hours activity after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.3%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was flat and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.

Firefly Aerospace (FLY) stock was up more than 3% before the opening bell after the company reported a narrower Q2 adjusted loss and higher year-over-year revenue.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was down by 0.4%.

Fervo Energy (FRVO) stock was up more than 2% before market open after the company reported a narrower Q2 net loss.

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.03%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) retreated 0.01%, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was down 1.3%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.03%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) gained 0.02%.

Kontoor Brands (KTB) shares were down more than 1% pre-bell following the company's Q2 financial results.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced by 0.6% to $83.69 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was 1.3% higher at $2.80 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 0.1%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 2% higher.

Gold futures for November gained by 0.7% to reach $4,472.20 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures retreated 2.3% to $66.44 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up by 0.8%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 2% higher.