09:00 AM EDT, 05/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher premarket Friday, with The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.3%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.9% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.6% lower.

Essent Group ( ESNT ) shares were up past 2% after the company reported Q1 earnings and revenue that surpassed analysts' expectations.