09:23 AM EDT, 10/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher premarket Monday, with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) advancing by 0.5%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 1.7% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 1.4% lower.

HBT Financial ( HBT ) shares were up more than 2% after the company reported higher Q3 adjusted earnings and operating revenue. Separately, HBT Financial ( HBT ) and CNB Bank Shares said they have agreed to a $170.2 million cash and stock merger.

KKR (KKR) is launching a marine container leasing platform called Galaxy Container Solutions with $500 million in capital already committed from its asset-based finance strategy, Bloomberg News reported, citing a statement. KKR stock was up more than 1% pre-bell.

CME Group ( CME ) said its metals complex volume hit a record 2.83 million contracts on Friday, beating the previous daily record of 2.15 million contracts traded earlier this month. CME Group ( CME ) shares were 0.9% lower premarket.