03:43 PM EDT, 10/02/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks eased in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) both down 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 1.1%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) shed 0.6%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 0.5% to $60,787, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 4.2 basis points to 3.785%.

In economic news, ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 143,000 increase in September, above expectations compiled by Bloomberg for a 125,000 gain.

Mortgage applications fell 1.3% in the week ended Friday because of an uptick in mortgage rates, Mortgage Bankers Association data showed.

In corporate news, Jefferies Financial ( JEF ) is in talks with investors for $1 billion in financing support for a potential buyout of industrial manufacturer Form Technologies by Ares Management ( ARES ) , Bloomberg reported. Jefferies shares rose 0.7%, and Ares gained 1%.

KKR (KKR) has made a non-binding, preliminary approach to take the $5 billion Hong Kong-listed ASMPT private, Bloomberg reported. KKR shares rose 1.4%.

TPG (TPG) and Zayo are vying to buy Crown Castle's (CCI) fiber and wireless assets in a deal worth about $10 billion, Reuters reported. TPG shares eased 0.1%.

JPMorgan Chase ( JPM ) is planning to open nearly 100 new branches in low-income areas in the US, including rural towns with dwindling bank presence, The Wall Street Journal reported. The bank's shares were fractionally lower.