Housebuilders join Persimmon in index of blue-chip British companies

Planning Houses

Barratt and Taylor Wimpey will both re-enter the FTSE 100 later this month.

The two volume house builders rejoin Persimmon in the index of blue-chip British companies following its quarterly reshuffle.

Taylor Wimpey has re-entered the FTSE 100 after a six year absence following a dramatic slide in its share price during the recession.

Barratt is back in the index after a three month gap out, having previously re-entered in March.

Both companies’ shares have gained this year on the back of Britain’s rising property market.

The two companies, both of which were heavily hit by the housing market downturn, are worth £4.5bn and £4.3bn respectively.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 index has reclassified Galliford Try as a housebuilder.

Galliford Try has been moved from the heavy construction subsector to the home construction subsector, reflecting the growth of its housebuilding division - which includes Linden Homes and Galliford Try Partnerships - and the sale of its contracting arm to Miller Group.