New home sales rose a tepid 0.7 percent last month, missing Wall Street expectations and providing more evidence the housing market recovery remains tentative.

Stocks fell for a second day Thursday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to start unwinding some stimulus measures and a report showed existing-home sales fell last month.

Stocks retreated Thursday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to start unwinding some stimulus measures and a report showed existing-home sales fell last month.

An opening pop fizzled Thursday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to start unwinding some stimulus measures and a report showed existing-home sales fell last month. Stocks had opened higher after a report showed an unexpected drop in jobless claims last week.

Stocks snapped their winning streak Thursday after soaring this week to new highs for the year.

Shares of most homebuilders moved higher Monday after a big jump in house resales last month.

Fresh signs that the economy is stabilizing  emerged Tuesday in reports that home construction rose more than expected last month and wholesale prices remain in check.

Housing construction fell to a record low in April as a steep drop in apartment building offset a rebound in single-family construction.