Stocks end higher after shaky day of trading

NEW YORK — About halfway through first-quarter earnings reports, Wall Street still isn't sure where the economy is headed.

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Drop in home sales tugs at stock market

NEW YORK — An unexpectedly large drop in home sales dashed hopes that the economy is patching one its biggest holes. Stocks teetered back and forth Thursday after a 3 percent drop in sales of existing homes in March stirred worries that housing will remain a drag on the economy. Slumping home demand is also hurting banks by making them cautious about extending new loans.

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Strong report from Apple boosts stock futures

NEW YORK — Apple Inc.'s stronger-than-expected profit report lifted stock market futures Thursday as investors grew optimistic that technology companies could be enduring the recession better than some had expected.

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