Consumer companies rallied after better-than-anticipated confidence data.
The Conference Board's consumer sentiment index rose to 91.8, from 91 in February. Analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal were anticipating a March decline to 87.5.
"There do appear to be some early signs of stabilization in both consumer confidence and job openings after a clear fourth-quarter downtrend," said Bret Kenwell, U.S. investment analyst at online brokerage eToro. "While that doesn't yet signal a meaningful rebound, it may suggest the consumer and labor backdrop are no longer deteriorating at the same pace."
The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures home prices across the country, rose 0.9% in the 12 months through January, compared with a 1.1% increase in December.
European consumer-products giant Unilever entered advanced talks to merge its food operations with spice maker McCormick in a deal that would create a new food behemoth worth roughly $60 billion, including debt.
Allbirds, the sustainable sneaker company once valued at $4 billion, struck a deal to sell most of itself for $39 million.
Sneaker giant Nike logged lower profit in its latest quarter as sales in China continued to decline.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-31-26 1841ET
