Near peak in the rate rise cycle positive for builders

Sentiment towards the housebuilding sector has improved as market consensus that UK interest rates have peaked, grows. The sector suffered a derating in September last year after the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England began increasing interest rates. Companies such as Barratt Developments' saw its P/E ratio fall to 7.88 times from 9.71 times during September 1999. Housebuilders are now benefiting from the belief that the interest rate raising cycle is near its end, although the sector is still trading below its level this time last year. The FTSE All Share Construction and ...