03:25 PM EDT, 04/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks fell in late Wednesday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index declining 0.4% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) easing 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 1.4%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) added 0.4%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) declined 3.3% to $64,228, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 5 basis points to 4.65%.

In economic news, new orders for US durable goods rose 2.6% in March following a downwardly revised gain of 0.7%, above expectations for a 2.5% increase in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Excluding a 7.7% jump in transportation orders, new orders would have been up only 0.2% in March, as expected after a 0.1% increase in February.

In other news, the US Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in a federal court in East Texas challenging the Federal Trade Commission's recent rule banning companies from enforcing noncompete agreement on anyone other than senior executives.

In corporate news, Carlyle Group's ( CG ) founders and other corporate executives lost their attempt to end litigation early over a $344 million buyout of tax agreements tied to the company's public listing. Carlyle shares fell 0.6%.