09:25 AM EDT, 09/26/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday, with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.4%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 1.2% lower.

Tiptree ( TIPT ) and Warburg Pincus have agreed to sell 100% of US specialty insurer Fortegra Group to South Korean non-life insurance firm DB Insurance for about $1.65 billion in cash, the companies said. Tiptree ( TIPT ) shares were up nearly 2% premarket.

Royal Bank of Canada ( RY ) is keeping tabs on a number of possible US acquisition targets to expand its business south of the border, Bloomberg News reported, citing Chief Executive Dave McKay. Royal Bank of Canada ( RY ) stock was 0.9% higher pre-bell.

Apollo Global Management ( APO ) is in discussions to acquire a 50% stake in Orsted's 8.5 billion pounds ($11.34 billion) Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm off the UK's east coast, Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Apollo Global Management ( APO ) shares were up 0.6% premarket.