BRITAIN'S business community looked to York today as Fulford-based Persimmon issued its half-yearly results. They contained heartening news: record profits, up 73 per cent.
Economists, wearied by the gloom elsewhere on the markets, seized upon this bright spot. A further cause for optimism is Persimmon's "encouraging" forward sales.
Many experts now believe that the housing boom has peaked. The confidence with which Britain's biggest housebuilder is facing the future is a cheery counterbalance to the gloom-mongers.
Rocketing property prices could not continue indefinitely. Persimmon's prediction that the housing market will remain buoyant gives hope that the boom will level off, rather than turn instantly to bust.
Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, August 28, 2001
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