09:21 AM EDT, 03/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Wednesday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advancing by 0.8%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 2.4% higher and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was down 2.6%.

Barclays ( BCS ) is pulling back on asset-based lending to smaller borrowers following the collapses of Market Financial Solutions and Tricolor Holdings, Bloomberg reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Shares of Barclays ( BCS ) were up more than 3% premarket.

HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) named Jack Yang as its finance chief for Asia and the Middle East, news outlets reported. Shares of HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) were up more than 2% pre-bell.

American Express ( AXP ) stock was up more than 1% after the company said it has launched the Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card which features 2% cash back on all eligible purchases and 5% cash back on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.