01:31 PM EDT, 04/08/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks gained in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 3% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 2.4%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 4.6%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) advanced 1.5%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 0.3% to $71,679, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was dropping 6.4 basis points to nearly 4.28%.

In sector news, US equity indexes jumped and crude oil futures sank after a conditional two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran boosted investor confidence and eased geopolitical tensions. Pakistan's prime minister invited delegations from Iran and the US to Islamabad for talks on Friday, CNN reported. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend to reach a final settlement with Tehran.

In corporate news, Apollo Global Management ( APO )-managed (APO) funds, Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) , Sumitomo, and SMBC Aviation Capital said Wednesday they completed the acquisition of Air Lease (AL) for about $7.4 billion, or $28.2 billion inclusive of debt obligations, and renamed the company Sumisho Air Lease. Apollo shares rose 0.8%, and Brookfield added 2.4%.