01:31 PM EDT, 10/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks rose in Friday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.2% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) gained 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index climbed 1.2%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) added 0.5%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) rose 2.2% to $68,843, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries shed 2.9 basis points to 4.07%.

In economic news, housing starts eased 0.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.35 million units in September from the revised 1.36 million print the month prior, the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development said. The latest data was largely in line with the consensus in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, American Express ( AXP ) Q3 results increased and revenue trailed estimates, while the payments company lifted its full-year earnings outlook. The shares fell 3%.