09:20 AM EDT, 03/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were leaning lower pre-bell Monday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was recently declining by 0.3%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was down 0.8% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.8% higher.

Walmart ( WMT ) is making Klarna the exclusive provider of its buy now, pay later loans, a big win for the Swedish fintech over its rival Affirm (AFRM), CNBC reported, citing people with knowledge of the situation. Affirm Holdings ( AFRM ) shares declined by more than 6% premarket.

Banc of California ( BANC ) shares were up more than 1% after the company said its board approved a $150 million stock repurchase program.

Qifu Technology ( QFIN ) shares advanced by over 6% after the company reported a higher Q4 non-GAAP net income.