According to the Commerce Department, new-home sales increased 2.3 percent in April from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 454,000. That's only slightly below January's pace of 458,000, which was the fastest since July 2008. _ KB Home, up 87 cents, or 3.8 percent, to $23.91. _ Hovnanian Enterprises Inc., up 20 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $6.14.
NEW YORK-- Shares of homebuilders tumbled Thursday on a report that U.S. builders broke ground on fewer homes in April, but analysts said the drop could be looked at as a buying opportunity. According to the Commerce Department, builders started construction at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 853,000, a 16.5 percent drop from the March pace of 1.02 million.
Shares in the major private hospital groups extended losses on news of the probe, with Life Healthcare dropping the most, trading down over 3 percent to 37.12 rand, its biggest decline in nearly five months.
CAPE TOWN, May 7- South African competition authorities will launch an investigation into the private healthcare industry, where early evidence showed high prices and market distortions, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Tuesday.
May 3- MDC Holdings Inc:. *Credit Suisse raises target price to $39 from $37; rating neutral. Reuters Station users, click. 1568.
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