FTSE 250 movers: Housebuilders rise on home price rise; Ashmore slides

(Sharecast News) - FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,619.51 1.44%

Housebuilders and associated sectors were in favour after figures from Halifax showed that house prices rose in August for the third month in a row, to a fresh record high.

House prices ticked up 0.3% on the month following a 0.4% jump in July. On the year, prices were up 2.2% in August, easing from 2.5% growth the month before.

The average price of a home stood at £299,331 last month, up from £298,400 in July and marking a new record high.

Vistry, Bellway, Hill & Smith, Grafton and Savills all lifted on the news.

Retailer B&M gained after UK retail sales rose by more than expected in July.

Retail sales volumes are estimated to have risen by 0.6% in July, following an 0.3% increase in June. Analysts had been expecting a smaller 0.2% rise.

Asset manager Ashmore tumbled as it reported a 3% fall in assets under management driven by net outflows of $5.8bn amid market turmoil highlighted by US tariffs. AuM came in at $47.6bn, resulting in a 15% fall in pre-tax profit to £108.6m for the year to 30 June.

Ithaca Energy, Diversified Energy, Harbour Energy and Energean were all down on a weaker oil price.