LONDON (Reuters) – UK homebuilder shares tumbled on Monday, set for their biggest one-day drop in over six weeks, led by a 14.9% fall in Crest Nicholson shares which plunged after the residential housebuilder cut its full-year profit view.
By 0725 GMT, an index of London-listed homebuilders was down 3.2%. It underperformed the FTSE 350 which was up 0.1% and was on track for its biggest monthly drop since last September.
Crest Nicholson lowered its annual profit expectations in the wake of challenging trading conditions as high interest rates and sticky inflation drove homebuyers away.
Separately, on Monday an industry survey showed asking prices for homes in Britain fell sharply this month as rising mortgage costs caused sellers to lower their expectations of what they can get for their properties.
(Reporting by Lucy Raitano; Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe)
