Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday as the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) was recently up 0.1%.
The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.2% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.2% higher.
Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) has closed its Brookfield Growth venture capital-focused unit, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Brookfield Asset Management shares were up over 1% premarket.
Essent Group (ESNT) shares fell by more than 1% after the company reported a decline in Q4 earnings.
NatWest Group (NWG) is facing a potential criminal case over a debanking scandal as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is considering filing criminal proceedings, Sky News reported. Separately, the company reported higher Q4 earnings and total income. NatWest shares declined by over 3% premarket.