09:04 AM EDT, 08/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing pre-bell Wednesday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) up 0.3%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 0.8% higher and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was down 0.6%.

Banco Santander (SAN) and Webster Financial ( WBS ) have received US Federal Reserve approval for their proposed deal under which Banco Santander will acquire Webster, the companies said. Shares of Banco Santander and Webster Financial ( WBS ) were up more than 1% premarket.