Wolseley unit sale plan rumoured

 

Wolseley rose strongly on the Footsie amid market talk that the plumbing supplies firm has put three of its UK firms - Build Center, Electric Center and Encon - on the block.

The firm has been selling off units since it was hit by the slowdown in the housing market in the UK and the US, where the company has much of its business.

The stock closed up 67p at 2058p.

Wolseley will update the market today on third-quarter trading.

Analysts expect it to make annual profits of between £547m and £605m on sales of around £13.5bn.