Persimmon’s profits rise

HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon posted a 57 per cent rise in pre-tax profit after it sold 6,408 new homes in the six months to the end of June.

The York-based company said it was trading ahead of last year in the traditionally slower summer period.

The company, which pre-announced its sales last month, reported first-half underlying pretax profit of £212.9m.

Persimmon said it had taken advantage of the strengthening British property market to deliver growth and it anticipated opening about 100 new development sites during the second half.

“As we have entered the traditionally slower summer trading weeks, we have been encouraged by our private sale reservation rate since 1 July which is currently running nine per cent ahead of the same period last year,” chief executive Jeff Fairburn said today.