Financial stocks leaned lower premarket Thursday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) recently declining by 0.9%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 3.1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 3% higher.

Marex Group (MRX) shares were up more than 3% after the company reported higher Q4 adjusted earnings and revenue.

Apollo Capital Management (APO) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board's acquisition of joint control of Novolex and Pactiv Evergreen (PTVE) was approved by the European Commission, the regulator said. Apollo Capital Management shares were over 3% lower premarket.

MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX) said its total average daily volume was $43.4 billion in February, up 27% from a year earlier and 11% higher than in January. MarketAxess Holdings shares were down more than 1% pre-bell.