09:06 AM EDT, 05/27/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing pre-bell Wednesday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) marginally higher.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.3% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was also 0.3% higher.

Banco Santander (SAN) shares were up more than 1% after the company said it launched a cash tender offer to repurchase up to $850 million of its outstanding 4.75% perpetual preferred tier 1 securities.