Homebuilders firm on house price data UK housebuilders gained momentum after house price data from one of the UK's biggest lenders beat forecasts, while positive trading updates also helped the sector. Data from the Halifax for June showed a month-on-month rise of 0.6 per cent, better than forecasts of 0.4 per cent and also the 0.4 per cent rise seen in May. It took the year-on-year rise to 3.7 per cent, one percentage point ahead of forecasts, and significantly better than the 2.6 per cent year-on-year rise recorded in May. The numbers come as the government's Help to Buy scheme, designed to help people on to the housing ladder, continues. Shares in two mid-cap housebuilders are rising in London after positive earnings updates. Redrow is up 5.9 per cent at 236.3p, one of the best gainers on the FTSE 250, after it said annual revenue rose 26 per cent year-on-year, with completed sales up 1 per cent. Taylor Wimpey is up 3.1 per cent at 99.9p after it said it traded at the upper end of its expectations in the first half until June 30. The FTSE 100 housebuilder Persimmon said the schemes helped lift reservation rates for its homes by 30 per cent in an update released earlier in the week. Its shares were up 1.2 per cent at £12.31 in early trade.