Stock futures rise on jump in housing starts

NEW YORK (AP) — Stock futures are getting a lift after a report showed construction of new homes rose more than expected in August.

Construction of new homes jumped 11 percent last month. Economists were expecting growth of less than 1 percent. The big jump fits into a pattern of recent economic reports topping modest forecasts. That has been enough to lift stocks sharply higher throughout the month.

The move was modest, though, as investors waited to see if the Federal Reserve might take new actions to stimulate the economy. Traders want to see if the Fed will restart a program to buy Treasury and mortgage bonds.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 21, or 0.2 percent, at 10,692. S&P 500 futures are up 2, or 0.2 percent, at 1,139, while Nasdaq 100 futures are up 4, or 0.2 percent, at 1,986.