01:32 PM EST, 02/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were decreasing in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index dropping 1.5% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) down 2.1%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was fractionally lower, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was also fractionally lower.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 1.8% to $98,375, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was falling 3 basis points to 4.51%.

In economic news, US initial jobless claims rose to 219,000 during the week ended Feb. 15 from an upwardly revised 214,000 in the prior week, the US Labor Department said Thursday. The expectations were for 215,000 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

The Conference Board's measure of leading indicators fell 0.3% in January, below expectations for a 0.1% decrease in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Affirm (AFRM) and Shopify (SHOP) said Thursday they were expanding their partnership, with Affirm becoming the exclusive pay-over-time provider for the Shop Pay Installments program in the US. Affirm shares were down 3.3%.