Financial stocks were mixed in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index easing 0.1% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index added 0.8%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) was down 0.2%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 2.4% to $94,618, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries edged higher to 4.69%.

In economic news, US initial jobless claims last week unexpectedly fell to 201,000, the lowest since February, versus expectations for an increase to 215,000 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 122,000 increase in December, missing forecasts for a 139,000 increase in a poll compiled by Bloomberg and below the 146,000 reported in November.

In corporate news, BlackRock (BLK) is cutting 1% of its workforce as part of efforts to realign resources, Bloomberg reported, citing an internal memo from President Rob Kapito and Chief Operating Officer Rob Goldstein. BlackRock shares rose 0.3%.

Ally Financial (ALLY) will be exiting the mortgage origination business and is looking at strategic alternatives for its credit card business in Q1, the company confirmed to MT Newswires. The company is also looking to shed some of its workforce. The job cuts would affect less than 5% of the company's workforce of 11,000. Ally shares were down 0.2%.

Deutsche Bank (DB) is set to buy a portfolio of bad loans for about $800 million from First Abu Dhabi Bank, Bloomberg reported. Deutsche shares fell 0.6%.