01:36 PM EST, 02/05/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks advanced in Wednesday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.7% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.6%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index climbed 1.8%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) added 1.3%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) declined 0.8% to $97,125, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries fell 9.1 basis points to 4.42%.

In sector news, US Senator Elizabeth Warren told President Donald Trump that she believes the White House should move to stop alleged discriminatory practices by the country's largest banks, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing a letter from Warren's office.

In economic news, the Institute for Supply Management's US services index fell to 52.8 in January from 54 in December, compared with expectations for no change in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Western Union ( WU ) and Penny Pinch launched international money transfer services in the app of Penny Pinch, an Eastern Caribbean digital wallet provider. Western Union ( WU ) shares rose 3.3%.

Banco Santander (SAN) shares jumped past 8% after it reported higher Q4 earnings that exceeded analyst estimates.

Apollo Global Management (APO) is working on a platform to enable trading of "high-grade" private assets, aiming to improve liquidity in the market, Bloomberg reported. Apollo shares added 0.9%.