Sector Update: Financial Stocks Edge Higher Premarket Wednesday

09:19 AM EDT, 09/30/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging higher premarket Wednesday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advancing by 0.2%. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.7% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.8% lower. Robinhood Markets (HOOD) stock was up more than 4% after the company launched Robinhood Agents, an in-app AI tool, and announced plans to offer perpetual futures and 24/7 trading of certain US equities and ETFs. Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) and Capital Bancorp (CBNK) have agreed to combine in an all-stock deal valued at $728.1 million, the companies said. Peoples Bancorp shares were down more than 12%, while Capital Bancorp stock was up more than 7% pre-bell. FactSet Research Systems (FDS) shares were down more than 2% even after the company reported higher fiscal Q4 adjusted earnings and revenue.