01:44 PM EDT, 07/29/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were lower in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index down 1.1% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) off 0.8%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 3.7%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) shed 0.3%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was decreasing 0.2% to $63,732, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 4.7 basis points to 4.651%.

In economic news, the US Federal Reserve is likely to remain on hold in the 3.5% to 3.75% target range in July, according to the CME FedWatch tool. However, the probability that the target rate for fed funds will increase to 4.25%-4.5% in December jumped to 17% as of Wednesday afternoon from 9% a month ago, implying a significant tightening bias among some market participants.

In corporate news, Visa (V) shares rose 1.8%. The company reported fiscal Q3 results above consensus estimates as consumer and business spending helped drive annual gains in payments volume.

CBIZ ( CBZ ) agreed to be acquired by accounting and advisory firm Grant Thornton Advisors in an all-cash deal worth about $5 billion, creating one of the largest providers of professional services, tax and advisory services in the US. CBIZ ( CBZ ) shares jumped 17%.

NextEra Energy (NEE) and Brookfield (BN) are part of a strategic partnership group that will develop a data center campus at the Energy Department's Paducah Site in Kentucky for $100 billion, according to a joint statement. Brookfield shares were down 1.8%.