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Sector Update: Financial Stocks Advance Wednesday Afternoon

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Financial stocks were higher in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 0.7% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) up 0.4%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was up 1.1%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) fell 1.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was increasing 0.4% to $65,844, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was steady around 4.428%.

In economic news, the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy committee will conclude its two-day meeting and announce its latest decision on interest rates at 2 pm ET. Markets widely expect the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged for a fourth consecutive time, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

US retail sales rose more than expected in May as consumers kept spending despite higher prices. Sales climbed 0.9% after a downwardly revised 0.4% gain in April, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday. The consensus was for a 0.6% increase in May, based on a Bloomberg survey.

In corporate news, JPMorgan Chase's (JPM) asset management division is advising investors to hold on to stocks and other higher-risk assets in H2, saying that AI investments should keep the markets rising despite higher inflation and a Federal Reserve that continues to maintain rates, Bloomberg reported. JPMorgan shares were up 1.6%.

KKR-backed (KKR) BMC Software agreed to sell a majority stake in BMC Helix to Montagu in a carve-out deal, Montagu said. KKR shares rose 0.8%.

Blackstone (BX), Apollo Global Management (APO) and FS KKR Capital (FSK) are among creditors investing $150 million to take over software firm Medallia after its owner Thoma Bravo indicated it would not inject more funds into the company, Bloomberg reported. Blackstone shares increased 0.8%, Apollo rose 1.4%, and FS KKR Capital added 0.8%.

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