03:51 PM EDT, 07/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were rising in late Thursday 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 increasing 0.7%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was 0.1% lower.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 0.9% to $119,824, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was slightly higher at 4.46%.

In economic news, retail sales rose 0.6% in June, outpacing the 0.1% forecast and rebounding from a 0.9% drop in May. Excluding motor vehicles, sales rose 0.5%; excluding both motor vehicles and flat gasoline station figures, sales increased 0.6%.

The NAHB housing market index ticked up to 33 in July from 32 in June, matching estimates. Still, the gauge remained below 41 recorded a year ago.

The Philadelphia Fed's manufacturing index surged to 15.9 in July from minus 4 in June, ahead of forecasts for a minus 1 print.

In corporate news, Morgan Stanley ( MS ) is resuming an attempt to refinance about $4 billion of private loans for financial software firm Finastra, Bloomberg reported. Morgan Stanley ( MS ) shares rose 0.8%.

Travelers (TRV) shares gained 3.5% after it reported higher Q2 core income and revenue.

A consortium led by BlackRock ( BLK ) is nearing a deal to invest $10 billion in the infrastructure of Saudi Aramco's Jafurah gas project in Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported. BlackRock ( BLK ) gained 2%.

US Bancorp ( USB ) reported higher-than-expected Q2 earnings as revenue rose year on year, while the lender now sees full-year revenue growth at the low end of its guidance. Its shares were falling 1.1%.