Shares of retailers and other consumer-services companies rose as gains in consumer discretionary stocks outpaced declines for consumer staples.

Construction of new homes in the U.S. increased in August, partly reversing July's decline, data from the Commerce Department show. Housing starts rose 3.9% in August compared with July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.615 million.

Shares of homebuilder Lennar slipped after the company missed analysts' sales expectations for the latest quarter, citing supply-chain challenges that show no sign of easing.

McDonald's said the toys included in its Happy Meals will be made from more sustainable materials by 2025, as large companies look to make their operations more environmentally friendly.

AutoNation appointed Mike Manley, former head of Fiat Chrysler, as its next chief executive, tapping an auto-industry veteran to steer the nation's largest publicly traded car-dealership chain out of the pandemic. 


 Write to Amy Pessetto at amy.pessetto@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

09-21-21 1717ET