Shares of retailers and other consumer companies rose after strong economic data.
U.S. home sales rose 7% in September from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.29 million, the highest pace since January, according to the National Association of Realtors.
New filings for initial unemployment benefits decreased to 290,000 last week from a revised 296,000 a week earlier, the Labor Department said, the latest indication that the U.S. has shaken off a hit to activity from the virulent Delta variant.
Domestic carrier Southwest Airlines said a cascade of cancellations earlier this month cost it $75 million, and the airline said it is planning to throttle back on flying to prevent similar incidents.
Shares of Unilever ticked up after the British consumer-products giant said higher prices offset the impact of pandemic-related restrictions in several key markets on its sales growth.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
10-21-21 1718ET
