09:19 AM EST, 12/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks advanced pre-bell Friday, with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.3% higher recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.6% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.7% lower.

Washington Trust Bancorp ( WASH ) shares declined by over 3% after the company priced an upsized public offering of about 1.9 million shares at $34 per share.

Bank of Nova Scotia ( BNS ) has received the US Federal Reserve's approval to increase its interest in KeyCorp ( KEY ) to up to 14.99% from 4.93%, the Fed said Thursday. Bank of Nova

Scotia and KeyCorp ( KEY ) shares were up 0.1% and 0.4% premarket, respectively.

HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) has triggered the closure of trade-finance firm Stenn Technologies after discovering potential bogus transactions, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) were 0.3% higher pre-bell.