04:00 PM EDT, 05/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in late Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.7% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) adding 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index climbed 1.1%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was fractionally lower.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) rose 2.1% to $68,917, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was less than one basis point lower at 4.47%.

In economic news, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was revised upward to 69.1 for May from the preliminary estimate of 67.4, compared with expectations for a smaller upward revision to 67.7 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

New orders for US durable goods rose 0.7% in April following a downwardly revised gain of 0.8%, compared with expectations for a 0.8% decrease in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In regulatory news, Kristin Johnson, a Democratic commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is a leading candidate to replace Martin Gruenberg as the chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Bloomberg reported.

In corporate news, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria ( BBVA ) sought approval from Spain's National Securities Market Commission to launch a bid for Sabadell. BBVA is offering one new share for every 4.83 shares of its banking rival. BBVA shares added 0.8%.

Golden Star Acquisition ( GODN ) said Friday it canceled the extraordinary shareholder meeting on the proposed merger with Gamehaus to allow the Shanghai-based mobile game publisher more time to meet Chinese regulatory approvals. Golden Star shares rose 0.6%.

Capital One Financial ( COF ) and Walmart ( WMT ) ended their card partnership for Capital One to be the exclusive issuer of Walmart ( WMT ) consumer credit cards. Capital One shares rose 0.1% and Walmart ( WMT ) was up 0.8%.

Marathon Digital ( MARA ) shares jumped 5.5%. The company signed a collaboration agreement with Kenya's government to establish a framework to use green data centers to optimize renewable energy projects and improve technological infrastructure in the country.