01:29 PM EST, 02/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks advanced in Tuesday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.6% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index fell 1%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) shed 0.1%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) declined 1.9% to $94,015, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 6.7 basis points to 4.539%.

In economic news, the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index rebounded to 5.7 in February from minus 12.6 in January, compared with minus 2 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

The National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index fell to 42 in February from 47 in January, compared with expectations for 46 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) is mulling a $1 billion investment in Spring Education Group, a private school operator, Bloomberg reported. Brookfield shares rose 1.1%.