Stocks up...Housing troubles...AIG stock sale....

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are holding onto their gains heading toward the closing bell. The market will be closed for an extended holiday weekend.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people who signed contracts to buy homes in April slipped to the lowest point since fall. The report on weak pending home sales confirms that the housing market remains deeply troubled.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's prime minister has ruled out early elections after opposition leaders rejected his new plea for cross-party agreement on new austerity measures. The country has been kept solvent through a $157 billion international bailout, but creditors are urging new cutbacks and extensive privatizations.

NEW YORK (AP) — American International Group has announced completion of an offering of its common stock. Some 200 million of the 300 million shares involved were sold by the U.S. Treasury to disentangle the government from the bailed-out global insurance company.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sony has begun restoring access to its PlayStation Network, along with its Qriocity movie and music service in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The company shut down the services in April after a massive security breach that affected more than 100 online accounts.