Homebuilder posts profit loss

FORT WORTH, Texas -- D.R. Horton Inc., the nation's largest homebuilder, said Thursday it swung to a loss in its fiscal first quarter, due to hefty charges to write off inventory and land values as the housing slump worsens. Losses for the quarter ended Dec. 31 totaled $128.8 million, or 41 cents per share, compared with profit of $109.7 million, or 35 cents per share, a year ago. The builder closed on 6,549 homes, down sharply from 10,202 in the 2007 period.