UK DATA: House asking prices were up sharply in the first quarter, with
the expiry of the stamp duty holiday at end March looming. House asking
prices were up 1.6% on the month in March and 4.9% in the first quarter,
according to the Rightmove survey. Activity may well fall back when the
stamp duty, or property transaction tax, holiday ends but the Rightmove
data add to the evidence the market has picked up ahead of its expiry.