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Housebuilder Bellway has reported a 3.9% fall in its first half pre-tax profit due to challenging conditions.

Plumbing and building supplies group Wolseley reported first-half pre-tax profit down 72% to £233 million due to losses at its US building materials business Stock.

Paving stone maker Marshalls has reported a 1% rise in full year pre-tax profit to £42.1 million.

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey saw UK gains wiped out by overseas write-downs, causing the group to make a loss for 2007.

Builders' merchant Travis Perkins has reported a better than expected 18.7% increase in 2007 underlying pre-tax profit.

Investment banking group Close Brothers said talks with potential bidders for the company have ended.

Housebuilder Persimmon said its full-year pre-tax profit rose 1% to £585.1 million following a 'very challenging year'.

Morgan Sindall has shrugged off worries about the commercial construction sector by reporting a 21% rise in annual earnings.

Construction group Balfour Beatty has been awarded a new £74 million contract for restoration work on the Forth Bridge.

Connaught said its social housing division has already recorded more than £370 million of new orders since September.