09:09 AM EST, 12/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were steady premarket Friday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) inactive.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was slightly higher.

Paychex ( PAYX ) stock was up more than 1% after the company posted higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue in addition to raising its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings growth outlook.