03:22 PM EDT, 06/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were decreasing in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) both slipping about 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was down 0.5%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was retreating 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 1.7% to $60,759, and the yield for 10-year US Treasury was rising 8 basis points to 4.32%.

In economic news, US new-home sales plunged to a 619,000 annual rate in May from an upwardly revised 698,000 rate in April, below the 633,000 rate expected in a Bloomberg survey.

In corporate news, Blackstone (BX) is exploring options for its sustainability and efficiency consulting subsidiary Legence, including a potential sale or initial public offering, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. A deal could be valued at as much as $5 billion, the report said. Blackstone shares declined 0.2%.