01:55 PM EDT, 08/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were rising in Tuesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.4% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) ahead 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 1%, while the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was 0.2% higher.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 2% to $61,658, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 2 basis points to 3.84%.

In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence rose to 103.3 in August from 101.9 in July, above a reading of 100.8 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

The Case-Shiller National Home Price index rose 0.5% in June before seasonal adjustment, a slower rate than a 0.9% gain in May. The 20-city reading rose 0.6%, versus a 0.3% gain expected by analysts in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, CrossFirst Bankshares ( CFB ) agreed to merge with First Busey ( BUSE ) in an all-stock deal valued at $916.8 million, the lenders said in a joint statement. CrossFirst shares were falling 1.7%, and First Busey ( BUSE ) was down 0.8%.

Bank of New York Mellon ( BK ) shares were rising 0.8%. The bank will pay $5 million to settle an alleged failure to accurately report millions of swap deals and properly supervise its swap dealer business, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission said.

Blackstone (BX) is in talks with banks for a five-year loan of 5.5 billion Australian dollars ($3.7 billion) as part of its effort to buy Australian data center operator AirTrunk, Bloomberg reported. Blackstone shares rose 0.2%.