09:18 AM EDT, 04/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were declining pre-bell Wednesday, with The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.8% lower.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares ( FAS ) was down 1.2% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ( FAZ ) was 3.6% higher.

KKR (KKR) shares were down 1.6% pre-bell Wednesday, continuing from a 3.1% fall in the prior day's close. The company announced Wednesday plans to acquire Karo Healthcare and UK-based diversified healthcare REIT Assura.

Blackstone (BX) stock was over 2% higher after the company said it has raised 9.80 billion euros ($10.82 billion) to close its latest European real estate fund, Blackstone Real Estate Partners Europe VII.

Lincoln Financial (LNC) shares were up more than 7% after the company said it received an $825 million strategic growth investment from Bain Capital.