Housebuilders ahead but FTSE down overall

Halifax figures revealing a sixth successive month of rising property prices saw housebuilders leap ahead today as the Bank of England’s move to keep interest rates at a record low also helped the sector.

Charles Church owner Persimmon lifted 7%, with similarly big hikes for its fellow FTSE 250 firms Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments thanks to news of another 1% house price rise in December.