Persimmon sees full-year profit at top end of views

The UK's largest homebuilder by market value, which is based in York, said it completed 9,384 homes in the year ended December 31, against 8,976 last year. Prices rose by 6 per cent to 167,000, lifting turnover by 10 per cent to 1.57bn.

Analysts are expecting an underlying pretax profit of 85m for 2010 according to a poll of 21 analysts compiled by the company.

House prices fell in four out of the last six months, rising slightly in December, but activity was knocked by bad weather in the month.

Peer Bellway said on Friday that its full-year results in July will depend heavily on a pick-up in consumer confidence in the crucial Spring selling season as builders gear up for a tough year.

Persimmon said in a separate statement on Monday that chairman and former chief executive John White will step down in April, with Nicholas Wrigley to replace him.

Shares in Persimmon closed at 437.7 pence on Friday, valuing the company at 1.3bn.