<div id="readability-page-1">09:05 AM EST, 12/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing pre-bell Monday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLF ) 0.2% higher.The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was up 0.5% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 0.6% lower.Carlyle Group ( CG ) shares were up 0.9% after the company said an affiliate of Carlyle Asia Partners has agreed to fully acquire KFC Korea for an undisclosed sum.KKR (KKR) said it has entered into a strategic financing transaction with ACWA Power, its first investment in Saudi Arabia. KKR shares were 0.8% higher premarket.JPMorgan Chase ( JPM ) is exploring offering cryptocurrency trading to its institutional clients, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the plans. JPMorgan Chase ( JPM ) stock was up 0.6% pre-bell. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.</div>

Financial stocks are advancing pre-bell Monday, with State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF up 0.2%, Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares up 0.5%, and Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares down 0.6%. Carlyle Group shares rose 0.9% after acquiring KFC Korea. KKR shares increased 0.8% following a strategic financing transaction with ACWA Power. JPMorgan Chase stock was up 0.6% amid plans to offer cryptocurrency trading to institutional clients.

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Advance Pre-Bell Monday