02:03 PM EDT, 07/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were narrowly mixed in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) marginally higher.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 0.8%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was gaining 0.14%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 1.2% to $117,886, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was dropping 5 basis points to 4.42%.

In economic news, the University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index rose to 61.8 in July, from 60.7 in June and ahead of Bloomberg's consensus forecast of 61.5.

June housing starts increased 4.6% from May to an annualized rate of 1.321 million, topping Bloomberg estimates of 1.300 million. Building permits edged up 0.2% to 1.397 million, beating expectations and reversing the prior month's dip.

In corporate news, American Express ( AXP ) reported better-than-expected Q2 results on Friday amid robust card member spending, while the payments company reiterated its full-year outlook. Its shares were still falling 2.4%.

Interactive Brokers ( IBKR ) shares jumped nearly 7% after it reported better-than-expected Q2 results.

Charles Schwab ( SCHW ) reported stronger-than-expected Q2 results, as the financial services provider added more than 1 million new brokerage accounts and saw a surge in trading revenue. Its shares added 2%.