A measure of home-builder sentiment rose this month, offering another possible sign that the housing market is beginning to stabilize.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which is based on a survey of home builders' perceptions about the housing market, rose to 14 in April from 9 in March following months of dismal readings. Partly driving the unexpectedly large rise this month was the builders' brightening outlook for sales over the next six months.

Wall Street Journal