Financial stocks rose pre-bell Friday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.7% higher recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 2.2% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 2% lower.

State Street (STT) has agreed to acquire Mizuho Financial Group's (MFG) global custody and related businesses outside of Japan, the companies said. Shares of Mizuho Financial Group were down over 2% premarket, while State Street shares were 0.9% higher.

Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) shares were 0.2% lower after the company reported a decline in Q4 earnings.