09:21 AM EDT, 03/09/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were falling pre-bell Monday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) declining by 1.2%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 3.6% lower and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was up 3.6%.

Citigroup ( C/PN ) (C) said it has issued its first digitally native structured note on Euroclear's Digital Financial Market Infrastructure platform. Citigroup ( C/PN ) stock was down more than 2% premarket.

Jefferies (JEF) said it has published a letter from its CEO and president responding to a lawsuit and public statements by Western Alliance Bank (WAL) related to loans backed by receivables from First Brands. Jefferies shares and Western Alliance stock were down more than 3% premarket.

Apollo Global Management's ( APO ) sports investment arm, Apollo Sports Capital, will complete the acquisition of a 55% stake in Spanish football club Atletico Madrid on March 12, Spanish newspaper Expansion reported, citing unnamed sources. Shares of Apollo Global Management ( APO ) were down more than 2% pre-bell.