UK's Howden Joinery hits 9-month high after strong half-year results
** Shares of Howden Joinery HWDN.L up as much as 9.87% at 918p, hitting a nine-month high ** Stock top gainer in FTSE 100 index .FTSE, which is up 0.5% ** Co reports half-year profit before tax of 117.2 million pounds ($158.96 mln), up 4.4% yoy ** Co on track to achieve its 2025 outlook ** Including session's gain, HWDN up about 15.25% YTD ($1 = 0.7373 pounds) (Reporting by Judes Joseph in Bengaluru) ((judes.joseph@thomsonreuters.com;))