Stock News April-23-2010

Lennar Corp. rallied 3.7 percent after purchases of new homes rose 27 percent in March, the most since 1963, as buyers took advantage of a tax credit. American Express Co. advanced 2.5 percent on earnings that beat analysts’ estimates, and Merck & Co. surged 5.6 percent as the drugmaker said the U.S. health- care overhaul won’t hurt long-term growth. Energy companies rallied as the dollar weakened against the euro for the first time in seven days.