08:57 AM EDT, 09/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing pre-bell Monday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.5% higher recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 1.3% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1.2% lower.

Sterling Bancorp ( SBT ) shares declined by more than 10% after the company said it has agreed to sell Sterling Bank and Trust to EverBank Financial for $261 million in cash.