01:25 PM EDT, 10/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.9% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) adding 1.2%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index rose 0.8%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) increased 0.7%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) edged up 0.2% to $110,347, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was slightly higher at 3.99%.

In corporate news, Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) is in exclusive talks to buy two inactive nuclear reactors in South Carolina from Santee Cooper in a potential multi-billion-dollar deal aimed at meeting burgeoning power demand from AI data centers, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing Santee executives. Brookfield shares rose 1.9%.