09:27 AM EST, 01/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were gaining pre-bell Wednesday, with The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) marginally higher.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was down 0.2% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.1% higher.

Deutsche Bank ( DB ) is set to buy a portfolio of bad loans for about $800 million from First Abu Dhabi Bank, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter. Deutsche Bank ( DB ) shares were down 0.3% premarket.

Intercontinental Exchange ( ICE ) said it acquired the American Financial Exchange, an electronic platform for direct lending and borrowing among American banks and financial institutions, from 7RIDGE. Intercontinental Exchange ( ICE ) shares were steady pre-bell.