09:00 AM EDT, 08/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were declining pre-bell Thursday, with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) down 0.4%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 0.9% lower, and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was up 1.4%.

Aegon ( AEG ) shares were up more than 7% after the company reported that it swung to an H1 net profit as operating results increased during the period.