09:02 AM EDT, 09/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing pre-bell Thursday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.3% higher recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 1.2% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1.1% lower.

BlackRock ( BLK ) has signed a memorandum of understanding to invest up to $1 billion per year in select project, energy, and infrastructure debt investment opportunities with Banco Santander (SAN), through structured transaction formats, the companies said. Banco Santander shares were up over 2% and BlackRock ( BLK ) shares were 0.6% higher.