01:53 PM EDT, 10/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were advancing in Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.4% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) ahead 0.5%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was shedding 0.3%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was down 0.5%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 0.9% to $67,292, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries spiked eight basis points to 4.09%.

In economic news, US retail sales rose by 0.4% in September, versus the 0.3% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and the previous month's 0.1% gain.

The seasonally adjusted number of initial jobless claims fell by 19,000 to 241,000 in the week ended Oct. 12, the Department of Labor said Thursday. The consensus was for a 258,000 level in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Blackstone (BX) on Thursday reported Q3 earnings above Wall Street's estimates, while its assets under management grew. Separately, Blackstone plans to take some of its largest investments public as the recent tech-driven rally signals a return in investor interest for initial public offerings, President Jonathan Gray told the Financial Times. Blackstone shares jumped over 7%.

Allstate ( ALL ) estimates catastrophe losses of $889 million for September primarily due to Hurricane Helene. For Q3, total catastrophe losses were $1.7 billion, and $4.55 billion for first nine months. Its shares were shedding 0.6%.

Carlyle-backed (CG) Litmus Music has acquired the rights to Randy Newman's song catalog, which features his work for Disney's (DIS) Toy Story films, Reuters reported. Carlyle shares were rising 3.8%.