Financial stocks were advancing premarket Friday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) 0.3% higher.
The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.9% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1% lower.
American Express (AXP) reported higher Q2 earnings and net revenue, with net revenue missing analysts' expectations. American Express stock was down more than 4% pre-bell.
HSBC Holdings (HSBC) agreed to sell its HSBC Life (Singapore) insurance business to Allianz Asia Holdings for 2.70 billion Singaporean dollars ($2.09 billion). Shares of HSBC Holdings were up more than 1% premarket.
Safety Insurance (SAFT) stock was up more than 41% after the company said it has entered an agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Mapfre in a $1.54 billion all-cash deal.