03:26 PM EDT, 08/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in late Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index increasing 0.5% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) adding 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was easing 0.1%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was down 0.3%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was rising 3.8% to $59,737, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was decreasing 3 basis points to 3.89%.

In economic news, the University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index rose to 67.8 in August from 66.4 in July, above the 66.9 anticipated in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Mastercard ( MA ) plans to cut 3% of its full-time employees globally, with the majority of the job cuts expected to be completed in Q3, a company spokesperson told MT Newswires Friday. Mastercard ( MA ) shares were up 0.1%.