01:38 PM EDT, 09/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) each rising about 1%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 2%, while the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was down 0.4%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 6% to $63,475, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 6 basis points to 3.75%.

In economic news, US initial jobless claims declined sequentially to 219,000 in the week ended Sept. 14 from an upwardly revised 231,000, compared with expectations for 230,000 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Toronto-Dominion Bank ( MLWIQXX ) President and Chief Executive Bharat Masrani said Thursday he intends to retire on April 10, 2025, after 38 years at the Bank. Toronto-Dominion shares were rising 2.8%.