03:31 PM EDT, 03/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in late Tuesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.2% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 1.4% and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) edged down 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 3.4% to $65,081, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was dropping 4.2 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, Coinbase (COIN) plans to invest in upgrading its infrastructure after soaring volume resulted in trading and platform woes, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing Chief Executive Brian Armstrong. Its shares fell 3.6%.