UK's Henry Boot warns on profit again as Iran war, domestic nerves hit sales (updated)

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22/07/2026 07:58

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    July 22 (Reuters) - Property and construction company Henry Boot BOOT.L issued its second annual profit warning this year on Wednesday, blaming political uncertainty in Britain and the conflict in the Middle East for lower sales of plots. 
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The company said its annual pre-tax profit would be significantly below market expectations of £20.4 million ($27.3 million).
"Macroeconomic uncertainty remains elevated, with domestic political uncertainty and the conflict in the Middle East continuing to weigh on consumer and business confidence," the company said in a trading update.
Rising energy prices from the Iran war have driven up construction costs, further pressuring homebuilders grappling with a slowdown in buying amid rising mortgage rates and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Homebuilders like Barratt Redrow BTRW.L, Taylor Wimpey TW.L, and Berkeley BKGH.L have curbed their land buying targets to reflect soft demand and rising cost pressures.
Henry Boot said some housebuilders had slowed land purchases and increasingly sought deferred payment terms, resulting in transaction delays.
It said first-half performance would be below the prior-year period, but improve in the second half due to higher expected home completions and delayed land sales completing later in the year.
     
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(Reporting by Neeshita Beura and Simone Lobo in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Rashmi Aich)
((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))