MBA Purchase Applications

MBA's purchase index popped 6.7 percent higher in the July 3 week to a 285.6 level that hints at improved demand for housing.

Pending home sales inch up in U.S., South

New figures from the National Association of Realtors show its Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in May, increased 0.1 percent to 90.7 in April. That reading is 6.7 percent higher than in May 2008 when it was 85.