01:50 PM EDT, 08/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were decreasing in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index easing 0.1% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) off 0.3%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 2.6%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was up 0.1%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was up 1.9% to $59,912, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was shedding 4 basis points to 3.78%.

In corporate news, B. Riley Financial ( RILY ) shares surged past 29%. The company is in talks to sell a majority stake in two of its businesses to Oaktree Capital, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

Franklin Resources' ( BEN ) Western Asset Management said Wednesday that co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech is taking an immediate leave of absence amid internal and external probes into past trade allocations. The shares tumbled 8%.

BlackRock ( BLK ) trimmed its support for shareholder proposals tied to environmental, social and governance issues in the most recent annual general meeting season, Reuters reported Wednesday. BlackRock ( BLK ) shares were adding 0.2%.