MARKET REPORT

HOUSEBUILDERS built gains yesterday thanks to rival Persimmon’s strong results.

The sector was helped by Persimmon saying demand is robust, despite fears of cooling.

Redrow rose 7.1 per cent to 687.4p, while Bellway gained 3.1 per cent to finish at 3,405p. FTSE 100 Barratt and Taylor Wimpey climbed 2.3 per cent to 722p and 2.2 per cent to 176.6p respectively.

Payments group Network International was the highest climber, up 11.3 per cent to 392.3p, after it swung into an interim profit.

Hostelworld was the biggest loser, down 8.7 per cent to 82.8p.

On Tuesday the FTSE and the All Share rose, while the FTSE 250 fell. However, the roles were reversed yesterday, with the 250 gaining 0.6 per cent to close at 23,836.4, while the FTSE slipped 0.2 per cent to 7,169.3.TheAll Share was down fractionally, 0.02 per cent, at 4,122.6.