01:43 PM EST, 01/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks advanced in Thursday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.7% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was little changed, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) added 0.3%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) increased 2.1% to $105,857, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 4.5 basis points to 4.64%.

In economic news, US initial jobless claims last week rose to 223,000 from 217,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for 220,000 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In sector news, insured losses from the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in California will be close to $28 billion, Karen Clark & Co. said.

In corporate news, HomeTrust Bancshares ( HTBI ) shares rose 2.7% after the company reported Q4 earnings and revenue rose from a year earlier, surprising analysts.