08:56 AM EDT, 07/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) recently up 0.2%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was up 1%.

Fanhua ( FANH ) was 1% higher after saying its board approved an additional $20 million share buyback capacity, increasing its share repurchase program to $40 million.