Investing.com - House prices in the U.K. unexpectedly declined in June, fuelling concerns over the health of the housing market, industry data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, the Halifax Bank of Scotland said its House Price Index dropped by a seasonally adjusted 0.6% last month, compared to expectations for a 0.2% increase.
U.K. house prices rose by 4.0% in May, whose figure was revised up from a previously reported gain of 3.9%.
House prices in the three months to December were 8.8% higher than in the same three months a year earlier, below forecasts for an 8.9% increase.
Following the release of that data, the pound was little changed against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD easing down 0.01% to trade at 1.7129.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were mixed after the open. London’s FTSE 100 dipped 0.2%, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 added 0.3%, France’s CAC 40 tacked on 0.3%, while Germany's DAX inched up 0.2%.