Financial stocks were higher in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.4% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) increasing 0.1%.
The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 2.3%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) down 0.2%.
Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 1.3% to $63,977, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 2.4 basis points to 4.563%.
In corporate news, Apollo Global Management (APO) launched a $7.65 billion bid for London-based airline EasyJet on Friday, modestly outbidding rival financial house Castlelake, Reuters and Bloomberg reported. Separately, Apollo has agreed to invest 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) for a minority stake in a newly established entity holding Bayer's long-acting reversible contraceptives business, the companies said Friday. Apollos shares were up 1.2%.