Housebuilder Persimmon defied gloom in the sector after predicting it would hit the ‘upper end’ of its targets this year. Boss Dean Finch said despite affordability and building cost pressures, profits were on track with guidance, and it expects to build 12,500 homes in 2026. Persimmon built 5,189 homes in the first half of the year – up 13 per cent year-on-year – while profits rose 15 per cent to £168million and revenues climbed 15 per cent to £1.7billion. Private sales were up 6 per cent in the five weeks to the end of June, but it warned that sales on the open market had softened slightly since as the market has struggled following war in the Middle East, which has driven up mortgage rates and dented consumer confidence.