08:53 AM EST, 03/05/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Wednesday, with The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.1%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 8.6% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.2% higher.

Banco Santander's (SAN) US investment banking operations more than doubled profit in 2024 after large investments in the business, Bloomberg News reported, citing a company representative. Banco Santander shares were up over 3% premarket.