Although the U. S. economy shrank one percent in the first quarter of the year, economists depict other factors that say the economy is improving, such as the sharp drop in unemployment claims for last week, falling to its lowest point since 2007. Investors, betting the economy is improving, pushed the S&P 500 index to a new high, 1.920.03, as it gained +10.25 points, +0.54 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell after the opening bell, but gained throughout the day, adding a modest +64.99 points, +0.39 percent, to close at 16,698.17. CNNMoney informs MHProNews the Nasdaq moved up +22.87 points, +0.54 percent, to finish at 4,247.95. The Yahoo! Finance Manufactured Housing Composite lost -0.85 percent, to close at 741. Most tracked stocks we cover finished modestly mixed or even. Affiliated Managers Group edged up the most, +1.67 percent, +3.12 points, to close at 189.65. Skyline Corp. fell the most, -2.36 percent, -0.115, to close at 4.76. Cavco Industries Inc. 78.10 -0.80 (-1.01%). Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, as well as MH home-building, lending and other housing suppliers parent company Berkshire Hathaway 192,300 +944.00 (+0.49%). Deer Valley Corp. remained at 0.66. Drew Industries 48.50 +0.06 (+0.12%). Equity LifeStyle Properties 43.16 +0.53 (+1.24%). Liberty Homes remained unchanged at 0.80. Louisiana Pacific Corp. 14.62 +0.03 (+0.21%). Nobility Homes remained unchanged at 11.25. Patrick Industries 38.19 +0.15 (+0.39%). Sun Communities, Inc. 48.12 +0.01 (+0.02%). Third Avenue Value Fund (May 28) remained unchanged at 59.39. UMH Properties, Inc. 9.86 -0.05 -0.50%) Universal Forest Products, Inc. 49.15 -0.38 (-0.77%). ##

(Graphic credit: CNNMoney and RealTick)