09:18 AM EDT, 03/31/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were declining pre-bell Monday, with The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.9% lower.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was down 2.6% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 2.7% higher.

Rocket (RKT) shares were more than 5% lower after the company said it agreed to acquire Mr. Cooper Group ( COOP ) in an all-stock transaction valued at $9.40 billion. Shares of Mr. Cooper Group ( COOP ) were up over 23% premarket.

HomeStreet ( HMST ) shares were over 12% higher after the company and Mechanics Bank said they have agreed to merge for an all-stock business combination.

FB Financial ( FBK ) and Southern States Bancshares ( SSBK ) said they have agreed to merge in a stock-based deal valued at roughly $381 million. Shares of States Bancshares were up more than 6% premarket.