09:13 AM EDT, 09/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing premarket Friday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLF ) up 0.4% recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.8% lower.

SelectQuote ( SLQT ) shares fell nearly 21% after the company reported a narrowed fiscal Q4 net loss that was higher than expected, and higher revenue.

HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) is discussing a potential sale of its South African corporate banking unit to FirstRand's Rand Merchant Bank, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) shares were 0.8% higher pre-bell.

Apollo Global Management ( APO ) said late Thursday that Apollo-managed funds have bought a majority stake in Freedom CNG, which operates compressed natural gas and renewable natural gas fueling infrastructure in Texas. Apollo Global Management ( APO ) shares were up 0.6% premarket.