09:22 AM EDT, 10/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher premarket Friday, with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) advancing by 0.1%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.4% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.5% lower.

Banco Santander (SAN) said its UK Chief Executive Mike Regnier plans to step down by Q1 of 2026. Shares of Banco Santander were up more than 1% pre-bell.

UBS Group ( UBS ) is receiving support from Swiss politicians and lobbyists for a compromise with the country's government on new capital requirements, The Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. UBS Group ( UBS ) stock was up more than 1% premarket.

BlackRock ( BLK )-owned (BLK) Global Infrastructure Partners is in late-stage discussions to purchase Aligned Data Centers, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. BlackRock ( BLK ) shares were 0.6% higher pre-bell.