Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk

The latest Market Talks covering Financial Services. Exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

1211 ET – U.S. housing supply continued to grow this January, Realtor.com says, but the recovery lost momentum as inventory moved further away from pre-pandemic norms. These trends signal renewed supply constraints even as prices remained largely flat nationwide. Active listings increased 10% year-over-year. extending a streak of inventory gains to 27 consecutive months. However, growth has slowed for nine straight months as seasonal trends and market momentum reverse much of the progress made in 2025. As a result, Realtor.com says the national housing supply is now 17.2% below typical 2017-2019 levels, the widest gap since last spring, with 30 of the 50 largest U.S. metros regressing relative to pre-pandemic inventory levels since May. “After meaningful inventory gains last year, the recovery has lost steam,” says Danielle Hale, Realtor.com’s chief economist, in the company’s monthly housing report. (chris.wack@wsj.com)

1143 ET – The typical home that went under contract in Austin in December spent 106 days on the market, Redfin says. That’s up from 91 days a year earlier. Nationwide, the typical home that went under contract in December did so in 60 days, up from 54 days a year earlier. Austin was the slowest market among the 50 most populous metropolitan areas, followed by San Antonio and Fort Lauderdale. Austin’s slowdown marks a sharp reversal from recent years, when it often held the title of “hottest” housing market, Redfin says. Austin’s median home sale price dropped 4.2% year over year in December—the third largest decline among the top 50 metros. Many sellers are taking losses, according to Redfin. Housing markets across Texas and Florida have also slowed in recent years due to a homebuilding boom. (chris.wack@wsj.com)

0856 ET – BNP Paribas’s revenue trends and efficiency will be key factors in determining whether the French bank can deliver on its higher earnings ambitions, J.P. Morgan’s Delphine Lee says in a research note. The lender reported a better-than-expected net profit for the fourth quarter and raised its 2028 profitability target, the analyst says. Nevertheless, this is likely to result in only minor upgrades to consensus estimates at this stage, she adds. Shares in BNP don’t discount its 2028 profitability target, which suggests the stock could go higher as the bank reassures as the bank reassures on capital and improves profitability over time, according to JPM. Shares rise 1.9% to 92.61 euros. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)