U.S. home prices rise more than expected in March

Annualized U.S. single-family home prices rose more than expected in March, a survey showed on Tuesday. "The economy is supporting the price increases with improving labor markets, falling unemployment rates and extremely low mortgage rates," said David M. Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. Home prices in three U.S. cities, Denver, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, showed the highest year-over-year gains, the survey showed.