01:29 PM EDT, 04/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.4% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) ahead 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was adding 0.3%, while the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was down 0.3%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) climbed 3.6% to $63,465, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 6 basis points to 4.65%.

In economic news, the seasonally adjusted number of initial jobless claims remained flat at 212,000 during the week ended April 13, the US Department of Labor said Thursday. The consensus was for 215,000 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Equifax's ( EFX ) shares tumbled 7.8% after Q1 sales missed expectations and the company's full-year forecast also lagged market consensus.