U.S. Stocks Decline, Led by Homebuilders; Lennar, Centex Shares Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- Most U.S. stocks fell for the first
time in four days after confidence in the homebuilding industry
dropped to a 16-year low, renewing concern that the housing slump
isn't over.

Homebuilders Lennar Corp., Centex Corp. and Beazer Homes USA
Inc. slipped to the lowest since April. Wendy's International
Inc., the third-largest hamburger chain, retreated after the
company cut its earnings forecast. Transportation stocks declined
as oil rose to a nine-month high.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.S. Stocks Advance as Banks, Homebuilders Help Spark a Rebound

U.S. banks and homebuilders carried stocks to their second gain this week after Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. said bad home loans won't curtail earnings, helping erase a 136-point tumble in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Countrywide Financial Corp., the biggest U.S. mortgage lender, posted its first advance in five days as investors gained confidence mortgage delinquencies pose less of a risk to the financial system than previously thought. All 16 homebuilders in Standard & Poor's 500 indexes advanced.

Lehman's assessment pared a decline in its shares and helped ease concern mounting defaults among the riskiest borrowers will slow economic growth. Energy and technology companies also helped the Dow and S&P 500 recover today from earlier declines of more than 1 percent after oil prices climbed and JPMorgan upgraded Qualcomm Inc.

Read more at Bloomberg.com