01:57 PM EDT, 05/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were higher in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 1.4% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 0.9%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing up 3.4%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was up 0.8%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 0.9% to $77,453, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was dropping 9 basis points to 4.577%.

In US economic news, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to post minutes from its April policy meeting at 2 pm ET, in which policymakers had voted to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.5% to 3.75%.

In corporate news, an Ares Management ( ARES ) fund and the Scion Group have purchased 12 US student-housing properties for about $910 million, Bloomberg reported. Ares rose 1.8%.

Morgan Stanley ( MS ) has provided Hong Kong-based investment banking employees with special iPhones and iPads for use in mainland China amid rising concerns over cross-border data compliance, the Financial Times reported. Morgan Stanley ( MS ) shares were up 4.1%.

Lincoln International (LCLN) shares were up 13% after the stock marked its New York Stock Exchange debut at higher than the $20-per-share initial public offering price.