Analysts feel balance sheet woes will force housebuilders to cut dividends

Analysts are warning of dividend cuts across the beleaguered housebuilder sector, claiming many comp...

Analysts are warning of dividend cuts across the beleaguered housebuilder sector, claiming many companies have naïve views of their balance sheet strength. Persimmon was relegated to the FTSE 250 last week, leaving the blue-chip index bereft of housebuilders. Merrill Lynch has warned the market could face a repeat of the 1990s crash and many analysts believe firms are close to breaching banking agreements. "We believe if current house price trends continue then UK housebuilders will have to face up to the serious risk of landbank writedowns," it added. Credit Suisse said income fund...