Financial stocks were lower in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index down 0.8% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) falling 1.2%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 3.7%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was fractionally lower.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 0.5% to $64,166, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 1.8 basis points to 4.622%.

In economic news, the Federal Open Market Committee maintained its target range for the federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75% on a 9-3 vote Wednesday afternoon, making few changes to its policy statement from the previous meeting.

In corporate news, Bridgepoint Group's Bridgepoint Credit is set to become the majority owner of Carlyle (CG) portfolio company Anthesis Consulting via a recapitalization deal, Bloomberg reported. Separately, Carlyle, Energean, Dragon Oil, and Artemis Energy are among the companies that are expected to bid for BP's (BP) West Nile Delta natural gas development off Egypt this week, Reuters reported. Carlyle shares were down 1.7%.