09:17 AM EDT, 04/23/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were leaning lower pre-bell Thursday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) marginally declining.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 0.4% lower and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was up 0.3%.

Banco Santander (SAN) shares were down more than 1% after the company said it will temporarily suspend its share buyback program pending approval from US lender Webster Financial's ( WBS ) shareholders of a proposed takeover by the Spanish bank.

Blackstone (BX) shares were down more than 2% even after the company reported higher Q1 distributable earnings and revenue.

Nasdaq (NDAQ) stock was up more than 1% after the company posted higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.