family and multifamily homes tumbled. Both sets of data eased worries that the economy is moving at a pace that would worsen inflation and prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates faster than expected. Merrill Lynch & Co., the biggest U.S. brokerage, said first-quarter profit slipped, but unveiled a $4 billion stock buyback plan and raised its quarterly dividend. Merrill climbed 2.4 percent to $54.52. Shares of General Motors Corp. fell 1.6 percent to $25.78 after it posted a $1.1 billion quarterly loss. Dow component Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, reported first-quarter earnings per share, excluding special items, that were just above Wall Street's average estimate. Pfizer's shares fell 12 cents to $27.48. Tech shares also received a lift from data storage company EMC Corp., which rose 8 percent to $12.38 after reporting profit nearly doubled and saying it would meet Wall Street's outlook for the rest of the year.
