Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Wednesday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.1% recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.5% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.3% lower.

Qifu Technology (QFIN) shares rose nearly 5% after the company reported higher Q3 earnings and revenue.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) will serve as the calculation agent for a series of freight rate indices that the New York Shipping Exchange will launch next year, NYSHEX said. Shares of Intercontinental Exchange were up over 1% premarket.

KKR (KKR) shares were up 0.2% after the company said it launched the second part of its two-stage tender offer for Tokyo-listed Fuji Soft's shares and options.