03:50 PM EST, 02/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were declining in late Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index shedding 0.9% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) dropping 1.4%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was up 0.1% and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) rose 0.6%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 2.1% to $98,643, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries dropped 4 basis points to 4.50%.

In economic news, US initial jobless claims rose to 219,000 during the week ended Feb. 15 from an upwardly revised 214,000 in the prior week, the US Labor Department said Thursday. Expectations were for 215,000 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

The Conference Board's measure of leading indicators fell 0.3% in January, below expectations for a 0.1% decrease in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Oxford Lane Capital ( OXLC ) said Thursday it has priced a public offering of $165 million in 7.95% unsecured notes due 2032. Its shares were down 0.3%.

Allstate ( ALL ) shares were falling 1.4% after it said Thursday its estimated catastrophe losses for January reached $1.08 billion, or $849 million after tax.

United Bancorp ( UBCP ) shares rose 0.4% after it said Thursday its board has declared a special dividend of $0.1750 per share.

Lloyds Banking Group ( LYG ) shares popped 6% after the company's Q4 revenue came in ahead of analysts' estimates. It also said it plans to implement a share buyback plan of up to 1.7 billion British pounds ($2.14 billion).