Sector movers: Housebuilders move ahead

22nd Apr 2010 12:35

Investors have given housebuilder Persimmon's trading update a warm reception, helping lift the home construction sector higher. Persimmon said sales have remained consistent since it last updated the market on March 2, despite uncertainty over the state of the economy and the coming general election.Total sales are some 20% higher than last year at about £1.15bn, the company said. Volumes are up by about 11%, it added. The stock is the second best performer in the sector, behind fellow housebuilder Redrow.A rise in iron ore output at Anglo American has failed to lift the mining sector.Anglo is slightly higher after it reported a 23% jump in first-quarter iron ore production and a 7% rise in copper output, but with prices for the red metal lower, peers such as Rio Tinto and Kazakhmys are in the red.Top performing sectors so far todayIndustrial Engineering 4,832.35 +1.54%Food Producers & Processors 5,131.18 +1.01%Alternative Energy 6,454.48 +0.62%Household Goods & Home Construction 6,833.23 +0.43%Industrial Transportation 2,445.91 +0.43%Bottom performing sectors so far todayIndustrial Metals & Mining 6,830.87 -2.73%Life Insurance 3,724.56 -1.90%Oil & Gas Producers 8,574.94 -1.37%Banks 5,137.02 -1.19%Mining 22,913.98 -1.11%