Financial stocks were edging higher pre-bell 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 0.5% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.3% lower.
ProAssurance (PRA) shares were up more than 1% after the company said it has received all required regulatory approvals for its planned merger with The Doctors Company, clearing the final major hurdle for the transaction.