01:41 PM EDT, 03/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Tuesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.3% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 1.5% and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was shedding 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 3% to $65,150, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was dropping 4 basis points to 4.30%.

In economic news, US housing starts in February rose by 10.7% from the previous month to a 1.521 million annual rate, higher than expectations compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:50 a.m. ET for a 1.440 million rate.

In corporate news, Zillow ( ZG ) shares rose 2.4% after the data showing a larger-than-expected uptick in new home construction during February.