New home sales in July surge 9.6 pct, beating expectations in fourth straight monthly increase

WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes surged 9.6 percent in July, another sign the housing market is climbing back from the historic bottom it reached early this year. Driven by falling prices, the fourth-straight monthly increase was greater than expected.

Stocks edge lower in early trading after durable goods order report, breaking winning streak

NEW YORK — Stocks edged lower in early trading Wednesday as investors awaited more data on the housing industry.

Stock futures trading in narrow range after durable goods order report, ahead of housing data

NEW YORK — Stock futures were trading in a narrow range Wednesday after the governmnet reported a bigger than expected increase in overall orders to U.S. factories.

Stock futures modestly lower ahead of durable goods, home sales reports

NEW YORK — Stock futures were modestly lower Wednesday as investors prepare for a key reading on orders to U.S. factories and the latest in a series of housing reports as the government releases data on new home sales.

July new home sales expected to rise for 4th straight month, durable goods seen up 3 percent

WASHINGTON — Americans’ pessimism about the economy appears to be lifting, with consumer expectations for the next six months hitting their most positive point since the recession began. And a national gauge of home prices has posted its first quarterly increase in three years.

World stock markets jump after Fed chairman’s comments, housing data; Tokyo up over 3 pct

HONG KONG — World stock markets jumped Monday as upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve’s chairman and signs the U.S. housing industry was healing strengthened confidence in a global recovery.

Asian stock markets jump on Fed chairman’s comments, housing data; Tokyo soars over 3 pct

HONG KONG — Asian stock markets jumped Monday as upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve’s chairman and signs the U.S. housing industry was healing strengthened confidence in a global recovery.

Asian stock jump on Bernanke comments, home sales

HONG KONG — Asian stock markets jumped Monday as upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve’s chairman and signs the U.S. housing industry was healing strengthened confidence in a global recovery.

Shares of homebuilders rise as July home sales surge, Bernanke says economy near recovery

NEW YORK — Shares of homebuilders climbed Friday after the National Association of Realtors said homes sales surged in July, while Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. economy is on the cusp of a recovery.

Stocks surge after Bernanke declares economy on verge of recovery, home sales jump

NEW YORK — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said what investors wanted to hear, that the economy is indeed on the verge of recovery, and they responded with a rally that sent the major indexes to new highs for the year.

Home resales soar 7.2 percent in July; largest monthly increase in 10 years

WASHINGTON — The U.S. housing market is rebounding faster than expected.

Stocks open higher ahead of comments from Fed chairman, housing report

NEW YORK — Investors are taking a few more chances on the stock market Friday, sending stocks moderately higher for a fourth straight day ahead of comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and a report on housing.

Construction of US homes rises in July, giving the economy a boost

WASHINGTON — At least the market for new homes isn’t getting worse anymore, and that’s the first step to getting better.

Realtors group says home sales increase from 1st quarter to 2nd, sign of stabilization

WASHINGTON — U.S. home sales grew in the second quarter in 39 states, another sign that the ailing housing market is finally coming to life.

Consumer spending up in , unlikely to lead recovery as incomes fall, unemployment rises

WASHINGTON — As gasoline prices rose, Americans spent more in June than the previous month — despite falling incomes. For the rest of the year, economists expect falling wages and rising unemployment to act as a drag on spending.

Stocks post modest rise as traders take a break from heavy buying; Dow rises 34 points

NEW YORK — Having sprinted higher for three weeks, the stock market is taking a break.

Consumer spending up in June but unlikely to lead recovery as incomes fall, unemployment rises

WASHINGTON — As gasoline prices rose, Americans spent more in June than the previous month — despite falling incomes. For the rest of the year, economists expect falling wages and rising unemployment to act as a drag on spending.

Stocks zigzag after better data on consumer spending and housing; traders pause after rally

NEW YORK — Stocks barely budged Tuesday as investors took a break from a huge three-week rally.

Investors try to extend rally, edge higher after better consumer spending, housing data

NEW YORK — Stocks edged higher Tuesday as investors tried to extend a huge three-week rally.

US homes data helps European markets pare losses as Wall Street trades higher than expected

LONDON — European stock markets recouped earlier losses Tuesday after Wall Street opened better than expected, as more encouraging U.S. housing news sustained hopes the world’s largest economy could be on the verge of recovery.

Stocks pull off lows, trade mixed following report showing more healing in housing

NEW YORK — Stocks are paring early losses as investors cheer a report showing more signs of healing in the housing market.

Pending home sales rise in June for 5th consecutive month

WASHINGTON — Pending U.S. home sales rose in June for the fifth straight month, another encouraging sign of life for the embattled U.S. housing market, the National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.

Homebuilders Pulte Homes, Centex see order trends improve from earlier this year

Pulte Homes Inc. and Centex Corp. posted quarterly results Monday reflecting the recent improvement seen in the nation’s battered housing market.

Housing begins to reverse 3-year recession in every US region, but 2nd half looks rocky

It was — note the past tense — the worst housing recession anyone but survivors of the Great Depression can remember.

Lennar stock down after downgrade on recent rally; analyst says fundamentals still improving

NEW YORK — Shares of Lennar Corp. slid Tuesday after a Citi analyst downgraded the builder following the recent run-up in its stock price and urged investors to “feather out of” homebuilder positions.

Sales of new homes rise at fastest clip in 8 years; economists see housing comeback

WASHINGTON — New home sales rose last month at the fastest clip in more than eight years as buyers eagerly took advantage of bargain prices — a clear sign, economists said, that the real estate market may finally be bouncing back.

Dollar slips, but up vs yen, as positive signal on housing sends investors to riskier trades

NEW YORK — The dollar slipped against most of the major currencies Monday as a strong positive signal on the U.S. housing market led investors to riskier trades in the euro and emerging markets.

Uneven earnings and economic news steer stocks, giving 2-week rally only modest gains

NEW YORK — Investors are still building on a stock market rally even when the news isn’t all great.

Homebuilder stocks gain as sales of new homes up big in June, markets hope for rebound

NEW YORK — An 11 percent jump in new home sales in June sent homebuilders’ shares surging Monday at midday.

Stocks zigzag as home sales jump; Uneven earnings reports weigh on market after two-week rally

NEW YORK — Mixed reports on the economy and earnings left the stock market drifting early Monday, easing off of a two-week rally that lifted major indexes 11 percent.