03:48 PM EDT, 03/23/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in late Monday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 1.7% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 1.3%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was up 3.3%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) added 1%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 4.4% to $70,932, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries fell 5.7 basis points to 4.33%.

In economic news, US construction spending fell 0.3% in January, compared with a 0.1% gain expected in a Bloomberg survey, following an upwardly revised 0.8% rise in December.

In corporate news, Apollo Global Management ( APO ) and Bain Capital are among private-equity firms bidding to acquire Continental AG's industrial unit, Bloomberg reported. Apollo shares were down 0.1%.