01:25 PM EDT, 03/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Monday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.4% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) ahead 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 0.1% and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was up 0.4%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 1.8% to $67,053, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 3.6 basis points to 4.34%.

In economic news, the National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index rose for the fourth consecutive month to 51 in March from 48 in February, compared with expectations for no change in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, New York Community Bancorp ( NYCB/PU ) tumbled 6.8% after Raymond James downgraded its rating on the stock to underperform from market perform.