01:50 PM EDT, 03/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were decreasing Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index shedding 0.7% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) down 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 1.5%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was up 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 3.3% to $68,952, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries climbed 8 basis points to 4.40%.

In economic news, US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 210,000 in the week ended March 21 from a 205,000 level in the previous week, as expected in a Bloomberg survey.

Separately, a prolonged period of high energy costs will substantially drive up consumer inflation globally, with price growth in the US seen hitting 4.2% this year, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said Thursday. The conflict in the Middle East is testing the global economy's resilience as the Strait of Hormuz's closure and damage to energy infrastructure have disrupted supply chains, lifting crude oil and gas prices. The OECD raised its 2026 inflation forecast for the Group of 20 bloc as a whole, including the US, where it boosted its projected rate to 4.2% from 3% estimated in December.

In corporate news, Corebridge Financial ( CRBG ) and Equitable (EQH) said Thursday they have agreed to merge in an all-stock deal, valuing the combined company at about $22 billion. Corebridge shares decreased 0.9%, and Equitable was down 0.7%.

Carlyle (CG) and KKR (KKR) are in exclusive talks to build two data centers on US Army military bases at an estimated $2 billion each, the Financial Times reported Thursday. Carlyle shares declined 0.7%, and KKR rose 1.2%.

Blackstone (BX) is nearing an agreement to acquire data center developer Rowan Digital Infrastructure, The Information reported. The deal terms weren't disclosed but Rowan would likely be valued at over $10 billion, including its debt, the report said. Blackstone shares advanced 1.2%.

Jefferies Financial's ( JEF ) fiscal Q1 results rose year over year, driven by robust gains across its investment banking division. Its shares rose 1.1%.