Housing stocks jump as Jefferies turns more positive on sector

10th Apr 2015 09:28

Housebuilders were putting in decent gains on Friday as Jefferies upgraded ratings for stocks across the sector, saying that companies have "springs in their steps".The broker raised Bellway, Bovis Homes, Countrywide, Crest Nicholson, Redrow, Taylor Wimpey and Zoopla from 'hold' to 'buy'. Barratt Developments, Berkeley and Persimmon were lifted from 'underperform' to 'hold'.Jefferies said it has turned more positive on the sector after recent data pointed to a stronger pre-election housing market than anticipated."Help to Buy has helped the new-build sector punch above its weight, lettings market growth has countered housing transaction weakness for the UK estate agents and, with the portals, it appears that OnTheMarket's delivery has not matched its rhetoric," the broker said.It said that while the UK residential sector isn't risk free given political and interest-rate uncertainty, it has passed some of its "key danger points"."The election outcome remains uncertain, but empirically housing market activity picks up following an election whatever the electorate decides. Bank Rate increase fears may move from the back-burner post election, but we believe demand outweighs supply to such an extent that any Bank Rate induced softening would not change the fundamental long-term attraction of the UK residential market."