Mixed fortunes for housebuilder

House building giant Barratt Developments is tipped to reveal lower annual profits this week after seeing a slump in the number of homes built amid the lockdown.

But the outlook is expected to be more rosy thanks to a miniboom being seen in the housing market after the stamp duty holiday and a frenzy of pent-up demand. Numis ana - lyst Chris Millington is expecting a profits drop of about 45 per cent.