In stark contrast, housebuilder Persimmon saw its shares leapt 3.65% as reported its profit had climbed 34% year on year to £637.8m.
The strong earnings mean the company is able to pay a 110p per share as an interim dividend payment for 2015 on 1 April 2016, an increase of 100p per share on the provisional 10p per share payment proposed.
Chairman Nicholas Wrigley said the company delivered “an outstanding performance in 2015.”