03:22 PM EDT, 05/08/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were higher in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.2% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) adding 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 0.6%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) fell 0.9%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 0.1% to $62,267, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 3 basis points to 4.49%.

In economic news, mortgage applications in the US rebounded for the first time in three weeks, as rates across all loan types fell following a weaker-than-expected jobs report last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Wholesale inventories fell by 0.4% in March, unrevised from the advance reading, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a 0.2% gain in February.

In corporate news, Citizens (CIA) shares spiked 12% in recent trading, a day after the company reported higher Q1 revenue.