NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended gains on Thursday following a report showing sales of previously owned homes in the United States rose at a faster-than-expected 3.6 percent annual pace in June.
* The Dow Jones industrial average rose 92.80 points, or 1.04 percent, to 8,974.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index shot up 10.98 points, or 1.15 percent, to 965.05. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 23.85 points, or 1.24 percent, to 1,950.23.
* The Dow Jones home construction index was up more than 3 percent following the data.