Shares in some of the UK’s biggest housebuilders rose to their highest levels since the country entered lockdown today, after plans were revealed for restarts on site.
Taylor Wimpey shares surged 9.4% to reach 147.8p, their highest level since the country went into lockdown in March. The housebuilder announced this morning that it would remobilise most of its sites in England and Wales from 4 May.
Taylor Wimpey’s gains were the sharpest rise in the FTSE 100, followed by Barratt, which gained 8.7% and closed at 515.8p, and Persimmon, which was up 8.4% at 2,189p.
Those increases also took Barratt and Persimmon to post-lockdown highs, joining other housebuilders including Redrow, Belway and Crest Nicholson.
Vistry Group also saw a boost from construction promises, rising 11.5% to 810p after announcing plans to reopen partnership and housing sites this week.
Several commercial property firms were nursing losses as the coronavirus pandemic hangs over a downbeat market.
Ediston Property saw the largest drop, down 12% to 47.5p after revealing a fall in NAV in its retail warehouse as a result of the pandemic.
Regeneration specialist Harworth fell 7.5% to 91p following gains earlier this week. And Hammerson lost 4.3% to close at 58.28p after it failed to complete the £400m sale of a portfolio of seven retail parks to Orion by its deadline today.
The FTSE 100 finished the day up 1% at 5,826. The FTSE 250 rose 1.3% to 15,794.
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