Stocks rebound...Homebuilder deal...Bad luck for Vegas

NEW YORK (AP) Stocks are on the rise after two days of losses.

The key averages have been in positive territory since the opening bell.

NEW YORK (AP) It is a deal to create the nation's largest homebuilder. Pulte (PUL'-tee) Homes is buying Centex Corp. for $1.3 billion in stock as both companies try to survive the worst real estate recession in a generation.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Insurance stocks are on the rise after a report that the U.S. Treasury Department plans to extend the Troubled Asset Relief Program to some life insurers. The Wall Street Journal says an announcement is expected within the next several days.

Washington (AP) The Treasury Department says General Motors and Chrysler have both launched financing support programs for suppliers backed by $5 billion in government funds. A Treasury spokeswoman says the programs will restore credit in a sector that employs more than 500,000 people.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Hard times for Las Vegas. Tourism officials there say visitor volume was down 8 percent in February from a year earlier, and convention attenDance was down nearly 35 percent.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 04-08-09 0902CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list