Sector Update: Financial Stocks Edge Higher Pre-Bell Wednesday

09:21 AM EDT, 08/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Wednesday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advancing by 0.1%. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was slightly higher and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was down 0.2%. UP Fintech (TIGR) stock was down more than 1% after the company reported lower Q2 non-GAAP earnings. Victory Capital (VCTR) signed a definitive deal to acquire privately held global asset manager First Eagle Investments from Genstar Capital and First Eagle employees for about $7 billion, according to a statement. Shares of Victory Capital were 0.6% higher premarket. Blackstone (BX) has received European Commission approval to acquire joint control of Eurowind Energy alongside Denmark's Norlys and EWE Holding, the Commission said. Blackstone stock was 0.3% lower pre-bell.