03:27 PM EDT, 09/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were rising in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.9% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) adding 1%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was decreasing 0.6%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) rose 0.3%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 0.6% to $115,830, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 2.5 basis points to 4.05%.

The Federal Open Market Committee lowered the federal funds rate by 25 basis points at its meeting to a range of 4% to 4.25%, the FOMC's statement Wednesday afternoon showed.

In corporate news, Bank of America ( BAC ) said Wednesday it's increasing its military hiring and plans to add 10,000 more people with military backgrounds in the next five years. Its shares rose 1.3%.