Financial stocks were leaning lower pre-bell Monday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) declining by 0.2%.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 1% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1% higher.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) and Jefferies Financial's (JEF) joint venture in Japan has been cleared by the European Commission, according to a statement. Shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group were up more than 1% premarket.