01:39 PM EST, 02/13/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.1% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) fractionally higher.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was adding 0.6%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) rose 0.4%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 2.1% to $95,814, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was dropping 9 basis points to 4.55%.

In economic news, the US Producer Price Index rose by 0.4% in January, slower than an upwardly revised 0.5% gain in December, but above the 0.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

US initial jobless claims fell to 213,000 in the week ended Feb. 8 from an upwardly revised 220,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to 216,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Banco Santander (SAN) discussed a potential sale of its UK retail business with NatWest ( NWG ) , the Financial Times reported. Santander shares were down 0.7% and NatWest ( NWG ) was falling 2.9%.