01:28 PM EST, 03/07/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were declining in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index marginally decreasing and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) off 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 1.8% and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was shedding 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 2.1% to $67,580 and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 2 basis points to 4.12%.

In economic news, the US international trade deficit widened to $67.43 billion in January from a $64.17 billion gap in December, versus the $63.5 billion gap expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, New York Community Bancorp ( NYCB/PU ) shares jumped 7% after Fitch affirmed its ratings following the bank's announcement on Wednesday of a more than $1 billion capital investment by several firms. On Thursday, the company disclosed that deposits fell about 7% in the month through March 5.