03:23 PM EDT, 05/01/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were higher in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index adding 1.2% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.8%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index spiked 2%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) climbed 1.3%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) dropped 3.7% to $58,383, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries tumbled 9 basis points to 4.60%.

In economic news, the Federal Open Market Committee maintained the federal funds rate range at 5.25% to 5.5% at its meeting but expressed concern about inflation.

US job openings fell to 8.488 million in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said, lower than the 8.69 million openings expected in a Bloomberg survey and down from the 8.813 million reported in February.

The Institute for Supply Management's US manufacturing index fell to 49.2 in April from 50.3 in March, below expectations for 50 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Readings below 50 indicate contraction.

In corporate news, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander urged BlackRock ( BLK ) shareholders Wednesday in a letter to vote against Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser's nomination as a member of the company's board. BlackRock ( BLK ) shares were adding 0.9%.