01:34 PM EST, 03/06/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) each rising around 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was adding 0.6% and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was up 0.5%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 5.5% to $67,309, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was down 5 basis points to 4.09%.

In economic news, US job openings fell to 8.863 million in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday, slightly above the 8.85 million expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, but below the 8.889 million reported in December.

In corporate news, New York Community Bancorp ( NYCB/PU ) shares plunged 42%. The lender is seeking to raise equity capital and is trying to assess investors' interest in buying its stock, The Wall Street Journal reported.