Summary Box: Home sales rise while jobless claims fall, but economic risks remain

Summary Box: Home sales jump, jobless claims fall

ROSY REPORTS: Sales of previously occupied homes rose by nearly 7 percent in March, while jobless claims were down and inflation remained tame.

NOTE OF CAUTION: Many analysts expect the housing rebound could fade in the second half of the year. They predict a flood of low-priced foreclosures will hit the market and push down prices.

GREEK WOES: Europe’s statistics agency found that Greece’s budget deficit last year was larger than previously thought, which may push the country to seek aid. That rattled Wall Street at first, but stocks recovered late in the day.