09:25 AM EST, 02/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks rose premarket Tuesday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.2% higher recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.9% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.6% lower.

HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) has laid off about 40 investment bankers in Hong Kong as part of a global restructuring program to reduce costs, Reuters reported citing unnamed people with knowledge of the matter. HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ) shares were over 3% higher pre-bell.

KKR (KKR) shares were up almost 1% after the company said funds that it manages have acquired a stake in Employment Hero from SEEK Investments, manager of the SEEK Growth Fund, which continues to retain a stake in Employment Hero.

Donnelley Financial Solutions ( DFIN ) shares were up 0.4% even after the company reported lower Q4 adjusted net earnings and net sales.