0930 GMT - Shares in U.K. house builders fall after a Halifax Price Index report said annual house prices in London and southern England declined by more than 1%. Despite a good start to the spring selling season, builders operating in those areas, such as Berkeley and Crest Nicholson, face challenging market conditions, RBC Capital Markets analysts say in a note. On a national level, January's average property price rose 0.7%, breaking through the 300,000-pound barrier for the first time. "Whilst housing affordability is stretched for many, rising wages, falling mortgage rates and the easing of mortgage lending limits have all contributed to rising house prices at the national level," the analysts say. Shares in Bellway fall 1.4%, followed by Vistry, down 1.05%, Crest Nicholson and Berkeley, down 0.9% and 0.8% respectively. (anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 06, 2026 04:31 ET (09:31 GMT)

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