08:58 AM EDT, 10/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) slightly advanced recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.2% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.2% higher.

Several of Japan's largest financial institutions have suspended trading activities with Nomura Holdings ( NMR ) following a market manipulation scandal, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Nomura Holdings ( NMR ) shares were over 3% lower premarket.