Sector Update: Financial Stocks Decline Pre-Bell Monday

09:14 AM EDT, 10/19/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were declining pre-bell Monday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) 0.5% lower. The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1.4% higher. HDFC Bank (HDB) stock was down more than 4% even after the company reported higher fiscal Q2 standalone earnings and revenue. Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) shares were 0.7% higher after the company reported Q3 adjusted earnings that topped analysts' expectations, while revenue missed despite increasing year over year. KKR (KKR) signed a definitive deal to sell railcar and intermodal equipment lessor Infinity Transportation to Ares Management's (ARES) Ares Infrastructure Equity and Ares Insurance Solutions funds for an enterprise value of about $2.9 billion, the companies said. KKR shares were up 0.9% premarket.