Home Builders Not Reacting Too Drastically to U.S. Census Data (XHB, TOL, PHM, DHI, More...)

The U.S. Census Bureau released their data on New Residential Construction in December 2009 report this morning. New housing starts saw a seasonally-adjusted rate of 557K, below the consensus of 572K, and below the 580K reported for November 2009.

New building permits, however, were at 653K for December 2009, above the 580K consensus, and the 589K reported for November 2009.

Finally, housing completions were seasonally adjusted at 768K, 11.2% below the 865K for November 2009, and 25.3% below the 1,028K for December 2008.

Although a relatively good indicator, these mixed results haven't affected builders too much. Current stocks and ETFs to watch:

• Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) down 2.91% to $18.99;
  
  
• Brookfield Homes Corp. (NYSE: BHS) down 5.55% to $7.32;
  
  
• Pulte Homes (NYSE: PHM) down 1.82% to $10.79;
  
  
• D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI) down 1.62% to $12.13;
  
  
• SPDR S&P Homebuilders (NYSE: XHB) down 2.49% to $15.47;
  
  
• iShares Dow Jones US Home Construction (NYSE: ITB) down 2.08% to $12.69; and
  
  
• PowerShares Dynamic Building & Construct (NYSE: PKB) down 2.35% to $12.04.

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