Shares in U.K. housebuilders rose after the Lloyds House Price Index for June showed average house prices making a modest return to positive territory. Although annual growth stands at only 0.6%, the direction of travel matters more than the pace, RBC Capital Markets analysts say. Affordability remains stretched, and activity data from the Bank of England points to a hesitant buyer pool but June's data offers a tentative signal that the market is finding its footing, RBC says. "With mortgage rates pulling back from their recent peaks and the first-time buyer market showing genuine resilience, the seeds of a more confident second half to 2026 are being sown," RBC says. Crest Nicholson is up 0.7%, followed by Bellway, up 0.6%, and Barratt Redrow, up 0.5%. (anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)