03:24 PM EST, 02/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were mixed in late Wednesday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index shedding 0.2% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) fractionally higher.

The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 1.4%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was up 0.1%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) rose 0.8% to $96,417, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was little changed at 4.54%.

In economic news, January housing starts fell 9.8% to a 1.37 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 1.52 million pace in December.

In corporate news, Citigroup ( C ) is seeing the co-heads of its North America equity capital markets business leave for positions at separate investment management firms, Bloomberg reported. Citi shares were down 0.7%.