Indices Finish Quarter in the Black

Byline:

Margot Crabtree, Trade Trends

Publication Date:

Fri, 2006-03-31 18:00

Despite rising oil prices and a drop in consumer spending and income, indices closed in positive terrain for the month ending March 31, 2006. The Builders' Index added 12.32 points, or 0.98 percent, to end March at 1264.97. On the Product Manufacturers' side, the index ended at 969.60, an increase of 30.49 points, or 3.25 percent.

USG romped ahead 10.48 points, or 12.41 percent, to end the month at 94.96. USG shareholders on a certain date (which has not yet been determined) will have a right to purchase one new common share for each share owned for a price of $40.

Whirlpool completed its marriage to Maytag on the last day of our trading session, and sent Maytag stock ahead 4.13 points, or 24.01 percent. Including the assumption of Maytag debt, the deal is worth about $2.6 billion. Maytag closed at 21.33, and was our top percentage gainer. Whirlpool added 1.68 points, or 1.87 percent and ended at 91.47.

William Lyon Homes jumped a healthy 10.58 points after CEO William Lyon offered $93 per share for all shares outstanding in the company. WLS closed at 95.68, and was the Builders' top dollar gainer in March.

For the complete listing of Builders' and Building Product Manufacturer's indices as well as more information on the Wall Street Report, visit www.housingzone.com/economics [1].

Building Product Manufacturers' Index

Exchange Symbol	Ticker Name	Company
NYSE	ASD	American Standard Companies, Inc.
NASD	AMWD	American Woodmark Corp.
NYSE	BDK	Black & Decker Corp.
NYSE	DOW	Dow Chemical Corp.
NYSE	FO	Fortune Brands, Inc.
NYSE	GE	General Electric Corp.
NYSE	GP	Georgia-Pacific Co.
NYSE	MAS	Masco Corp.
NYSE	MYG	Maytag Corp.
NYSE	MHK	Mohawk Industries, Inc.
NYSE	SHW	Sherwin-Williams Co.
NYSE	SWK	Stanley Works
NYSE	USG	USG Corp.
NYSE	WHR	Whirlpool Corp.

Builders' Index

Exchange Symbol	Ticker Name	Company
NYSE	AVB	AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
NASD	AVTR	Avatar Holdings, Inc.
NYSE	BZH	Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
NYSE	BHS	Brookfield Homes Corp.
NYSE	CPT	Camden Property Trust
AMEX	CAV	Cavalier Homes, Inc.
NASD	CVCO	Cavco Industries, Inc.
NYSE	CTX	Centex Corp.
NYSE	CHB	Champion Enterprises, Inc.
NASD	CHCI	Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
NYSE	DHI	D.R. Horton, Inc.
NASD	DHOM	Dominion Homes, Inc.
NYSE	FLE	Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.
NYSE	HOV	Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
NYSE	KBH	KB Home
NYSE	LEN	Lennar Corp.
NYSE	LEV	Levitt Corp. (Levitt & Sons, LLC)
NYSE	MDC	MDC Holdings, Inc.
NYSE	MHO	M/I Homes, Inc.
NYSE	MTH	Meritage Homes Corp.
NASD	NOBH	Nobility Homes
AMEX	NVR	NVR, Inc.
AMEX	OHB	Orleans Homebuilders, Inc.
NASD	PHHM	Palm Harbor Homes, Inc.
NYSE	PHM	Pulte Homes, Inc.
NYSE	RYL	Ryland Group, Inc.
NYSE	SKY	Skyline Corp.
NYSE	JOE	St. Joe Co., The
NYSE	SPF	Standard-Pacific Corp.
NASD	TARR	Tarragon Corp.
NYSE	TOA	Technical Olympic USA, Inc.
NYSE	TOL	Toll Brothers, Inc.
NYSE	WLT	Walter Industries (Jim Walter Homes, Inc.)
NYSE	WCI	WCI Communities, Inc.
NYSE	WY	Weyerhaeuser Co. (Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Co.)
NYSE	WLS	William Lyon Homes

	Price 3/31/2006	Price 2/28/2006	Net Change	Percent Change
Product Manufacturers' Index	969.60	939.11	30.49	3.25%
Dow Jones Industrial Average	11109.32	10993.41	115.91	1.05%
S&P 500 Index	1294.87	1280.66	14.21	1.11%
NASDAQ Composite	2339.79	2281.39	58.40	2.56%
Gainers/Losers
$ Gainer	USG Corp.			10.48
$ Loser	Mohawk Industries, Inc.			-5.79
% Gainer	Maytag Corp.			24.01%
% Loser	Mohawk Industries, Inc.			-6.69%
	Advancers			11
	Decliners			2
Source: Trade Trends, Inc. (509) 327-1279

	Price 3/31/2006	Price 2/28/2006	Net Change	Percent Change
Builders' Index	1264.97	1252.65	12.32	0.98%
Dow Jones Industrial Average	11109.32	10993.41	115.91	1.05%
S&P 500 Index	1294.87	1280.66	14.21	1.11%
NASDAQ Composite	2339.79	2281.39	58.40	2.56%
Gainers/Losers
$ Gainer	William Lyon Homes			10.58
$ Loser	NVR, Inc.			-14.05
% Gainer	Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.			17.75%
% Loser	Centex Corp.			-8.31%
	Advancers			23
	Decliners			13
Source: Trade Trends, Inc.