This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40823898

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Help to Buy report hits housebuilder shares Help to Buy report hits housebuilder shares
(about 5 hours later)
Shares in housebuilders have fallen after a report raised the prospect of the government's Help to Buy scheme being wound down ahead of schedule. Housebuilders were the biggest fallers on the 100 share index throughout Friday after a report raised the prospect of the government's Help to Buy scheme being wound down early.
The scheme - which aims to help first-time buyers - is to be reviewed, according to a report in Property Week.The scheme - which aims to help first-time buyers - is to be reviewed, according to a report in Property Week.
It said the review could look at tapering the system ahead of its scheduled closure in April 2021. Among the housebuilders on the FTSE 100, Barratt fell almost 5% and Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey about 4%.
Among the housebuilders on the FTSE 100, Persimmon and Barratt fell 4% while Taylor Wimpey dropped 3.5%. The FTSE 100 index closed up 36.94 at 7,547.63 points.
The FTSE 100 index was up 6.43 points at 7,481.20 shortly before midday. Shares in Merlin Entertainments were the best riser, closing up 6%, despite the firm - which owns the London Eye. Legoland and Madame Tussauds - saying recent terror attacks had led to fewer visitors to its city centre sites.
Shares in Merlin Entertainments rose nearly 2%, despite the firm - which owns the London Eye. Legoland and Madame Tussauds - saying recent terror attacks had led to fewer visitors to its city centre sites.
The company reported half-year profits of £50m, unchanged from a year earlier, although it said full-year profits were still set to meet expectations.The company reported half-year profits of £50m, unchanged from a year earlier, although it said full-year profits were still set to meet expectations.
RBS shares rose 1.8% after the bank reported its first half-year profits for three years. RBS shares rose 2% after the bank reported its first half-year profits for three years.
It made a profit of £939m in the first six months of the year, a big turnaround from the £2bn loss in the same period of 2016.It made a profit of £939m in the first six months of the year, a big turnaround from the £2bn loss in the same period of 2016.
On the currency markets, the pound was unchanged against the dollar at $1.3138 and was also flat against the euro at 1.1070 euros. On the currency markets, the pound reversed gear against the dollar after the US jobs report came in stronger than expected, it ended in London down 0.78% at $1.3037.
After flirting with new nine-month lows against the euro around 1 euro 10, it ended up 0.26% at 1.1097 euros.