Sector Update: Financial Stocks Edge Higher in Afternoon Trading

02:04 PM EDT, 10/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Financial stocks edged higher in Friday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index increasing 0.1% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) fractionally higher. The Philadelphia Housing Index fell 0.4%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) rose 0.4%. Bitcoin (BTC-USD) fell 0.3% to $84,624, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 4 basis points to 5.28%. In economic news, the September employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000, below the 90,000 increase expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey, while August payrolls were revised downward to a 133,000 increase and July payrolls were adjusted lower to a 10,000 decrease, for a net reduction of 60,000 jobs. New orders for US factory goods rose 0.1% in August, below expectations for a 0.2% increase in a Bloomberg-compiled survey and a revised 0.8% increase in the previous month. The probability of the US Federal Reserve raising its target rate by 25 basis points in October slipped to 23.8% from 24.4% a day ago and 64% a week earlier, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The remaining 76% likelihood is that rates will remain unchanged in the 3.75% to 4.00% range. In corporate news, Blue Owl Capital (OWL) is limiting redemptions from two of its private credit funds at 5%, Bloomberg reported. Blue Owl shares rose 2.5%. KKR (KKR), Blackstone (BX) and Warburg Pincus are mulling offers for vehicle glass repair company Cary Group, which is owned by CVC Capital Partners and Nordic Capital, Bloomberg reported. KKR shares were 0.1% higher, and Blackstone was up 0.6%. BlackRock (BLK) expects to maintain about 30% growth in its assets under management in Brazil next year despite uncertainty about presidential elections next month, Reuters reported, citing an interview with Brazil Chief Executive Bruno Barino. Barino estimates that the firm's assets under management in the country are set to grow between 30% and 35% this year, following a 12% growth last year, the report said. BlackRock shares were up 0.6%.