01:27 PM EST, 02/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks fell in Wednesday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index shedding 0.6% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) down 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 2.4%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) eased 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) rose 0.5% to $96,042, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 1.6 basis points to 4.56%.

In economic news, January housing starts fell 9.8% to a 1.366 million annual rate from the previous month, below expectations compiled by Bloomberg for a 1.39 million rate after an upwardly revised increase to a 1.515 million pace in December.

In corporate news, KKR (KKR) offered to invest 4 billion British pounds ($5.04 billion) in Thames Water for a majority stake in the utility, Bloomberg reported. KKR shares dropped 1.3%.