Financial stocks rose pre-bell Thursday with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) 0.8% higher recently.

The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 2.3% and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 2.7% lower.

Sterling Bancorp (SBT) shares were almost 3% higher after the company said its shareholders approved the sale of all issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of its Sterling Bank and Trust unit to EverBank Financial.

KKR (KKR) said it will extend its proposed takeover offer of 9,451 Japanese yen ($60.2) per share for Fuji Soft to Jan. 9. KKR shares were up over 1% premarket.

FactSet Research Systems (FDS) shares were up 0.2% after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.