08:59 AM EST, 03/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Monday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) recently advancing by 0.2%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.5% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower.

ING (ING) shares were up past 4% after the company said it initiated a share repurchase program with a maximum value of 70 million euros ($73.2 million) to fulfill obligations related to share-based compensation plans.