Financial stocks advanced in late Thursday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index rising 1.1% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) up 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Housing Index climbed 1.5%, and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE) gained 1.7%.

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) increased 0.5% to $84,752, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 5.4 basis points to 4.333%.

In economic news, President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell should "certainly" lower interest rates. "Powell's termination cannot come fast enough," Trump said, calling the central bank chief "too late."

March housing starts fell 11% to a 1.324 million annual rate from the previous month, below expectations in a Bloomberg survey for a 1.42 million rate after an increase to a 1.494 million pace in February.

Building permits increased 1.6% to a 1.482 million rate in March, above the 1.45 million rate expected and following a decline to a 1.459 million rate in February. Homes permitted but not started also increased, implying the outlook is positive for a gain next month.

In sector news, Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) are being asked by the chair of a US congressional committee on China to stop working on the Hong Kong listing of Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology, Bloomberg reported.

In corporate news, BlackRock (BLK) received renewed permission from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to continue owning major stakes in public utility companies. BlackRock shares rose 1.9%.

SoFi Technologies (SOFI) shares added 3.2%. The company expanded its loan platform business agreement with Fortress Investment by $2 billion.

Global Payments (GPN) agreed to buy Worldpay from GTCR and Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) for $24.25 billion in cash and stock and to sell its Issuer Solutions business to Fidelity at an enterprise value of $13.5 billion. Fidelity shares jumped 9.2%, and Global Payments slumped 16%.

Charles Schwab (SCHW) reported better-than-expected Q1 results amid double-digit gains in asset management fees and trading revenue driven by increased market volatility. The shares rose 1.6%.