FTSE 100 movers: Housebuilders gain but RSA slides on flooding cost

London’s FTSE 100 was up 0.6% to 6,293.74 at 1440 GMT in thin volumes, with many traders still away from their desks for the Christmas holidays.

Housebuilders were among the top gainers after a report from property group Haart showed house prices in November rose 13.4% annually and 3.7% on the month to reach an average of £231,857.

Haart chief executive Paul Smith said the UK experienced the steepest monthly and annual increase on record following a surge in registrations from buy-to-let investors since the Autumn Statement announced higher stamp duty would be introduced on 1 April.

The sector was also boosted by expectations that housebuilders will benefit from any rebuilding or repair work that needs to be carried out as a result of the recent flooding in the UK.

Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey were both firmly in the black.

However, RSA Insurance slipped as it emerged the floods could cost the economy up to £5.8bn, with insurers likely to see claims of up to £1.5bn.

Supermarket retailer Sainsbury’s was also under the cosh as the sale of its pharmacy business to Celesio has been delayed after the UK competition watchdog said it was launching a full investigation.

The Competition and Markets Authority said on Tuesday that it has referred Sainsbury's deal to outsource the management of its pharmacies to Celesio to a 'phase 2' investigation.

Risers

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 2,336.00p 3.78%
Persimmon (PSN) 2,020.00p 2.38%
St James's Place (STJ) 1,019.00p 2.31%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 201.60p 2.23%
Provident Financial (PFG) 3,372.00p 2.21%
London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 2,761.00p 2.18%
Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 3,690.00p 2.13%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,513.00p 2.09%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,197.00p 2.05%
easyJet (EZJ) 1,756.00p 2.03%

Fallers

Anglo American (AAL) 309.45p -5.67%
Pearson (PSON) 743.00p -3.26%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 584.00p -1.85%
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 424.10p -1.58%
Mondi (MNDI) 1,340.00p -1.40%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 456.50p -1.32%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 581.50p -1.27%
BP (BP.) 361.70p -1.16%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 1,988.00p -0.92%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 264.20p -0.83%