UK Halifax House Prices Rise 0.4% in July, Beating Estimates

UK house prices measured by the Halifax index rose 0.4% in July, outpacing the 0.3% increase expected by economists and reversing a flat reading in June. Compared with a year earlier, prices were 2.4% higher, a slight moderation from the 2.5% annual gain recorded in June. The figures point to a housing market that continues to edge higher despite signs of cooling in the pace of yearly growth.