09:01 AM EDT, 04/08/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Wednesday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advancing by 2.2%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 6.6% higher and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was down 6.7%.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's ( SMFG ) SMBC Group unit will invest $50.5 million to build its second US headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to a statement from Governor Josh Stein's office. Shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ( SMFG ) were up more than 5% premarket.