Sector Update: Financial Stocks Ease Late Afternoon

04:05 PM EST, 01/09/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks were edging down late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index fractionally lower and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) easing 0.2%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 5.5%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was up 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was decreasing 0.6% to $90,182, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries shed less than one basis point to 4.18%.

In economic news, the December employment report showed nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000, below the 70,000-job increase expected in a Bloomberg survey.

The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index rose to 54.0 in January from 52.9 in December, above expectations for a smaller rise to 53.5 in a Bloomberg survey.

In corporate news, LoanDepot (LDI) shares surged 19%, Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) jumped 13%, and Rocket (RKT) gained past 9% after President Donald Trump ordered a $200 billion purchase of mortgage bonds. "This will drive Mortgage Rates DOWN, monthly payments DOWN, and make the cost of owning a home more affordable," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

MetLife (MET) shares were down 0.5% after it said Friday it has reorganized its business to support growth in asset management, making its institutional asset management business, MetLife Investment Management, a standalone reportable segment.

Compass (COMP) and Anywhere Real Estate (HOUS) were able to avoid a review of their $1.6 billion merger after antitrust enforcers were overruled by senior Justice Department officials who believed the deal should go through, The Wall Street Journal reported. Compass rose 5%, and Anywhere was up 3.6%.

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