BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Toll Brothers Inc. before Wednesday's opening bell said orders for new homes rose in the latest quarter from the year-ago period for the first time in roughly four years, providing more support to housing optimists who say the market is stabilizing.

The Horsham, Pa.-based company said its fiscal third-quarter home-building revenue fell 42% to $461.3 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast revenue of $377.1 million, on average, for the quarter ended July 31.

Net signed contracts rose 3% to 837 units.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tol...ars-2009-08-12