08:39 AM EST, 01/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were higher pre-bell Friday, with The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.4%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 1.2% higher and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was down 0.9%.

Amerant Bancorp ( AMTB ) shares were up 1.9% after the company said its Amerant Bank unit sold 323 residential mortgage loans to Temple View Capital Funding and TVC Funding VII for $58.9 million in cash.