Investors heartened by strong earnings reports

WASHINGTON – A flurry of strong earnings reports renewed Wall Street’s optimism in the economic recovery, even as new data Thursday showed homes sales sinking and claims for unemployment benefits rising.

• Sales of previously occupied homes fell 5.1 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.37 million, the National Association of Realtors said.

• New claims for unemployment insurance jumped by 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted 464,000, the Labor Department said.

• The Conference Board, a private research group, said its gauge of future economic activity dropped in June. It was the second decline in three months.

• Investors focused on positive company earnings reports, and the Dow Jones industrial average rose more than 200 points on the day.