U.S. stocks rose, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to a five-year high, amid better- than-forecast initial jobless claims and housing data.

A measure of homebuilders in S&P indexes jumped 2.5 percent and was poised for the highest closing level since 2007. BlackRock Inc. (BLK), the world’s biggest money manager, added 5.1 percent as earnings increased 24 percent and the firm boosted its dividend and its share buyback program.