01:29 PM EDT, 03/25/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were declining in Monday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index decreasing fractionally and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) off 0.2%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 0.2% and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was down 0.1%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was gaining 8% to $70,570, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 3 basis points to 4.25%.

In economic news, the Dallas Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index slid to minus 14.4 in March from minus 11.3 in February, compared with expectations of minus 11.5 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

US new-home sales decreased to a 662,000 annual rate in February from an upwardly revised 664,000 rate in January, versus the 675,000 rate expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Goldman Sachs' ( GS ) private-equity arm is weighing a potential sale of European budget hotel chain B&B Hotels, Bloomberg reported Monday. Goldman shares were down 0.7%.