Financial stocks were softer in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index decreasing 0.4% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) fractionally lower.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 3.1%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was up 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 2.8% to $66,470, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was dropping 4.4 basis points to 4.662%.

In corporate news, BlackRock's (BLK) private credit division HPS Investment Partners and Oaktree Capital are among the creditors that seized control of production equipment supplier MBS Group last week, after the latter defaulted on its debt, the Financial Times reported. BlackRock shares were up 1.3%.