Company: Toll Brothers Inc.

Shares of companies that build houses, as well as retail chains that cater to homeowners, rose sharply though there wasn't much to get excited about from the two housing reports that were released Tuesday.

It's been the "best spring in five years," said the CEO of Toll Brothers. In 2012 "our orders are up significantly and continue to be up significantly. I'm optimistic right now."

KB Home posted a lower first-quarter loss, helped by higher selling prices, but the fifth-largest U.S. homebuilder said orders for new homes declined.

Stocks eked out modest gains Friday, buoyed by a better-than-expected government jobs report, but still ended off their best levels following news of a "credit event" in Greece. Still, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq logged gains for a fourth consecutive week.

Stocks closed in the red Wednesday as Bernanke dashed hopes for further monetary stimulus during his speech to Congress on the economy. Still the S&P logged its best February since 1998 and the Nasdaq briefly topped 3,000 in intraday trading for the first time since December 2000.

Stocks abruptly turned mixed in the final seconds of trading Monday, with the Dow ending in negative territory, while the S&P 500 still managed to log its best close since June 2008. Still, the Dow and the S&P 500 are both on track to posting their best February since 1998.

Stocks ended in the red Wednesday in thin trading amid ongoing concerns over the euro zone debt crisis and as investors took a breather following the strong run-up that propelled major averages to multi-year highs.

Stocks came off their worst levels but still closed lower Monday as investors took a breather following the recent market rally and amid ongoing debt negotiations in Greece over a fresh austerity package.

The U.S. housing market has shown strong signs of bottoming and could soon turn around, “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer says, at least if recent housing data and bullish comments from prominent businessmen are any indicator.

Wall Street has bet big over the past few months on a housing recovery that, according to most views, is still likely a good distance in the future.

Stocks ended near session highs Wednesday, but still closed narrowly mixed, as worries over the euro zone and declines in the energy sector limited gains.

Stocks closed mixed but finished off their worst levels Tuesday after a report that EU officials may be creating two separate rescue funds to help contain the region's ongoing sovereign debt crisis.