0957 GMT - Shares in U.K. home builders rise after the government's wage and employment data boosted hopes for interest rate cuts. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the unemployment rate rose 5.2% in the three months through December, the highest level since 2021. Furthermore, the number of payrolled workers fell further in the period as hiring activity remained weak, with redundancies seeing an upward trend, XTB Research Director Kathleen Brooks says in a note. "This is boosting the chance of a rate cut from the Bank of England next month, with more than two rate cuts now priced in for 2026," Brooks says. Barratt Redrow shares are up 2.7%, followed by Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey, up 2.1% and 1.5%, respectively. (anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 17, 2026 04:58 ET (09:58 GMT)

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