03:42 PM EDT, 03/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were decreasing in late Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index down 0.3% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) shedding 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 2.2%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) retreated 0.7%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 0.2% to $83,991, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 1.3 basis points to 4.25%.

In economic news, interest rates, as determined by the US Federal Reserve, will likely be lower than they are now in a year to 18 months, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee told CNBC during an interview on Friday. However, the number and the likely timing of those cuts will turn on multiple factors -- many of which are still unknown, he said.

In corporate news, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners ( BIP/PA ) has agreed to sell its entire 25% stake in NGPL Holdings to funds controlled by ArcLight Capital Partners, according to a statement by NGPL PipeCo on Friday. Brookfield shares were down 0.3%.

Apollo Global (APO) is exploring a potential sale of Cox Media, Bloomberg reported. Separately, Apollo and BP (BP) said Friday they reached an agreement for Apollo-managed funds to buy a 25% non-controlling stake in BP's 12% interest in a pipeline carrying natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkey. Apollo shares were falling 0.7%.

JPMorgan Chase's ( JPM ) asset management unit has exited the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, a company spokesperson told MT Newswires on Friday. Separately, JPMorgan ( JPM ) shifted the focus of its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to "diversity, opportunity, and inclusion" to align with changing market and regulatory conditions, Reuters reported. JPMorgan ( JPM ) shares were rising 1.1%.