Investing.com – U.K. house prices fell less-than-expected in January, industry data showed on Tuesday.
In a report, U.K. mortgage lender Nationwide said its house price index fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in January, after rising by 0.4% in December.
Analysts had expected the house price index to decline by 0.3% in January.
The report showed that year-over-year, home prices in the U.K. fell by 1.1% in January, after rising by 0.4% in December. Analysts had expected year-on-year home prices to decline by 1.0% in January.
Commenting on the report, Nationwide's chief economist Robert Gardner said, “January’s data does little to alter the picture of a sluggish market that has been evident since the summer.”
He added, “The outlook is still highly uncertain, but the most likely outcome is that the pattern of low transaction levels and prices moving sideways or modestly lower will continue through 2011.”
Following the release of the data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD adding 0.32% to hit 1.6059.
Meanwhile, the outlook for European stock markets was upbeat. The FTSE 100 futures pointed a rise of 0.36%, the EURO STOXX 50 futures indicated a gain 0.54%, France’s CAC 40 futures pointed to an increase of 0.52%, while Germany's DAX futures added 0.42%.
In a report, U.K. mortgage lender Nationwide said its house price index fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in January, after rising by 0.4% in December.
Analysts had expected the house price index to decline by 0.3% in January.
The report showed that year-over-year, home prices in the U.K. fell by 1.1% in January, after rising by 0.4% in December. Analysts had expected year-on-year home prices to decline by 1.0% in January.
Commenting on the report, Nationwide's chief economist Robert Gardner said, “January’s data does little to alter the picture of a sluggish market that has been evident since the summer.”
He added, “The outlook is still highly uncertain, but the most likely outcome is that the pattern of low transaction levels and prices moving sideways or modestly lower will continue through 2011.”
Following the release of the data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD adding 0.32% to hit 1.6059.
Meanwhile, the outlook for European stock markets was upbeat. The FTSE 100 futures pointed a rise of 0.36%, the EURO STOXX 50 futures indicated a gain 0.54%, France’s CAC 40 futures pointed to an increase of 0.52%, while Germany's DAX futures added 0.42%.