Housing stocks were mostly lower Friday as the federal government sent mixed signals on a plan that would provide cheaper mortgages to many borrowers.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. said it priced a follow-on offering of 14 million shares of its common stock at $9.50 per share.

Shares of homebuilders fell Thursday after Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. said it plans sell 14 million shares to raise cash.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. plans to sell 14 million shares, the homebuilder said Wednesday.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. said Monday it expects to record second-quarter charges between $225 million and $275 million for land impairments and write-offs, due to ongoing sales and pricing declines.

Housing stocks erased some losses after the U.S. central bank lowered a key interest rate Wednesday, but most remained lower for the day.

The percentage of vacant homes for sale in the U.S. set a new record high in the first quarter of this year, the government said Monday.

Stocks rallied Monday after JPMorgan Chase raised its offer for Bear Stearns and a report on home sales came in better than expected.

Stocks rallied into the new week after JPMorgan Chase raised its offer for Bear Stearns and a report on home sales came in better than expected.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed open for Wall Street after the Easter break, with investors still nervous about the state of the economy.

There is currently no indication of the end of the housing crunch, the chief executive of home builder Hovnanian Enterprises told CNBC Tuesday.

Homebuilder stocks have staged  a remarkable turnaround in 2008,  despite a torrent of bad news,  but the share prices of many are still closer to the floor than the roof.

The upside to a housing slump is cheaper homes. But many prospective buyers don't see bargains yet. And stricter lending standards qualify only the cream of the credit crop.

Stocks closed mixed after another volatile day that featured lowered outlook for two key insurers, more jitters over credit and mixed results from an effort to shore up financials.

As the housing slump continues, the company loses $469 million, $7.42 a Share. It's the company's fifth consecutive quarterly loss, as revenue drops 20%.