Sector Update: Financial Stocks Rise Late Afternoon

03:46 PM EST, 11/11/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were higher in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index increasing 0.4% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 0.6%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was down 0.5%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was shedding 0.1%. Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 1.1% to $74,472. In economic news, the National Association of Realtors' measure of US existing-home sales is expected to slow to a 3.85 million annual rate in October, based on a survey compiled by Bloomberg, after rising to a 3.99 million rate in September. Existing-home sales were at a 4.11 million rate in October 2025, so the year-over-year change would be negative. The data are scheduled to be released at 10:00 am ET Thursday. In corporate news, Nomura (NMR) is exploring the sale of Laser Digital, its crypto business, after its losses put Nomura's entire European operation into the red last year, Bloomberg reported. Nomura is talking to Marex (MRX) and other potential buyers, and no final decision has been made, the report said. Nomura shares were up 2.3%. Blackstone (BX) is expecting to raise at least $3 billion for a fund that will take stakes in other asset managers' real estate vehicles, Bloomberg reported. Blackstone shares were down 0.3%. Goldman Sachs (GS), HSBC (HSBC) and Fortress Investment Group are among financial firms teaming up to provide $150 million in financing to United Saudi in one of Saudi Arabia's first major private credit deals since the US-Iran war began, Bloomberg reported. Goldman shares rose 2%, and HSBC added 0.5%. International Money Express (IMXI) shares climbed 3.9% after the firm said it has rejected Western Union's (WU) attempt to terminate its $500 million merger agreement and has asked the payment transfer company to take all necessary actions to complete the deal. Western Union shares were falling 3%.