01:59 PM EDT, 10/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were lower in Monday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index down 0.9% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) off 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 2.5%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was dropping 2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 1.4% to $67,492, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries jumped 10 basis points to 4.17%.

In economic news, the Conference Board's measure of leading indicators fell 0.5% in September, below expectations for a 0.3% decrease in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Atlantic Union Bankshares ( AUB ) agreed to buy Sandy Spring Bancorp ( SASR ) in an all-stock deal worth roughly $1.6 billion to form the largest regional bank headquartered in the lower Mid-Atlantic. Atlantic Union shares were falling 5.6%, and Sandy Spring shed 1.2%.

MetLife ( MET ) is in talks to buy PineBridge Investments' non-China assets that could be valued at $1 billion to $1.5 billion, Bloomberg reported. MetLife ( MET ) shares were down 0.4%.

Banco Santander (SAN) on Monday launched its digital bank in the US, potentially supporting up to $30 billion in vehicle loan financing and expanding its retail operation, Reuters reported. Santander shares fell 0.7%.