Exchange traded funds that invest in homebuilders and related sectors were higher Thursday after the Commerce Department said housing starts rose nearly 4% in May.
Also Thursday, Pier One (NYSE: PIR) said its first-quarter profit nearly doubled. The furniture and home furnishings retailer accounts for nearly 5% of SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (NYSEArca: XHB).
The ETF rose more than 1% on Thursday, while iShares Dow Jones US Home Construction (NYSE: ITB) rallied over 2%.
The ETFs invest in homebuilder stocks such as Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL), but also hold other companies and sectors that serve the residential market.