Financial stocks were higher in afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index rising 1.8% while the SPDR Financial Select Sector ETF (XLF) was ahead 1.5%. The Philadelphia Housing Index was climbing 2.1% and the SPDR Real Estate Select Sector ETF (XLRE) was adding 2.7%. In company news, StepStone Group (STEP) was 1.9% higher after the asset manager reported non-GAAP net income of $0.38 per share, up from $0.25 per share during the same quarter last year.