The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.3% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) advanced 0.3% in Wednesday's premarket activity as traders anticipate another interest rate cut following the Fed's policy meeting later in the day.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.3%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.

US mortgage applications fell 0.7% in the week ended Dec. 13 as 30-year fixed mortgages with loan balances of $766,550 or less rose to 6.75%, with refinancing activity down 3%, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday.

The November housing starts and permits bulletin, and the Q3 current account report will be released at 8:30 am ET.

The Atlanta Fed Business Inflation Expectations for December report posts at 10 am ET, followed by the weekly EIA petroleum status bulletin at 10:30 am ET.

The US Federal Reserve will announce its policy-rate decision at 2 pm ET in Washington, followed by a 2:30 pm ET press conference with Chair Jerome Powell.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 1.7% and the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.7% lower.

Power Play:

Technology

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) gained 0.5%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 1% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was flat. Among semiconductor ETFs, SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was up 0.9%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1%.

United Microelectronics (UMC) shares were up more than 3% in recent Wednesday premarket activity after the company said it had signed a 30-year power purchase agreement with Fengmiao I Offshore Wind Farm to buy over 30 billion kilowatt-hours of power.

Winners and Losers:

Energy

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

Oil States International (OIS) stock was up 2.6% before Wednesday's opening bell after the company said late Tuesday it closed the sale of an idled Houston Ship Channel facility, generating $24.8 million in net proceeds.

Industrial

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) advanced 0.2%, the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.1%, while the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.

Azul (AZUL) stock was up 2.5% premarket after the company said late Tuesday its Azul Secured Finance subsidiary has commenced offers to exchange its outstanding 11.500% senior secured second out notes due 2029 and 10.875% senior secured second out notes due 2030.

Consumer

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) was up 0.1% while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Fund (VDC) advanced 0.4%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) lost 0.2%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.

Tesla's (TSLA) shares were down 1.5% pre-bell after news outlets reported, citing a letter sent to staff, that the company's Shanghai plant manager, Song Gang, had left the company.

Health Care

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) advanced 0.2%. The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.3% while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 0.2%.

Merck (MRK) stock was up 1.4% premarket after the company and Hansoh Pharma said Wednesday they had signed a global license deal under which Merck will develop, produce, and commercialize HS-10535, an investigational oral GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Financial

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) advanced 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.7% lower.

Broadridge Financial Solutions (BR) shares were up 1% pre-bell Wednesday after the company said it has partnered with the Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute to launch an integrated platform designed to help European companies meet new sustainability reporting requirements under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulations.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced 0.9% to $70.70 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas gained 1.6% to $3.36 per 1 million British Thermal Units. United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 0.6%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.6% lower.

Gold futures for February gained marginally by 0.03% to $2,662.90 an ounce on the Comex, while silver futures retreated 0.1% to $30.90 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) advanced 0.1%, while the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was down by 0.4%.