UK housebuilders’ shares fall amid fastest drop in asking prices in five years

Crest Nicholson forecasts lower profits after number of first-time buyers plungesBritain’s housebuilders were the top stock market fallers on Monday after one of the sector’s biggest companies issued a profit warning and data revealed the fastest drop in asking prices in five years.Housebuilder Crest Nicholson said it expected to make a profit of about £50m this financial year, compared with about £74m expected in June, as the number of house purchases had fallen in recen