This article is more than 5 months old

This article is more than 5 months old

UK-listed shares ended a recent run of gains and fell heavily on Friday, with housebuilders and airlines among the worst affected as the fallout from the coronavirus lockdown continued to spread through corporate Britain.

The FTSE 100 fell by 5.25% on Friday after rising for three consecutive days - although that still left it 308 points, or 5.93%, higher than the start of a week of volatile trading. The FTSE 250 tracking mid-cap companies lost 3.97% on Friday.

The property industry was left reeling on Friday after the government put the brakes on the housing market on Thursday night, urging buyers and sellers to put plans on hold until the coronavirus restrictions were no longer in place.

The move prompted a sell-off of shares in some of the UK’s largest housebuilding firms. Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey were among the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100, down by 5.3% and 9% respectively, while Persimmon lost 11%. The property website Rightmove lost 6%.

Quick guide UK government support for workers and businesses during the coronavirus crisis Show Hide Income subsidies Direct cash grants for self-employed people, worth 80% of average profits, up to £2,500 a month. There are similar wage subsidies for employees. Loan guarantees for business Government to back £330bn of loans to support businesses through a Bank of England scheme for big firms. There are loans of up to £5m with no interest for six months for smaller companies. Business rates Taxes levied on commercial premises will be abolished this year for all retailers, leisure outlets and hospitality sector firms. Cash grants Britain’s smallest 700,000 businesses eligible for cash grants of £10,000. Small retailers, leisure and hospitality firms can get bigger grants of £25,000. Benefits Government to increase value of universal credit and tax credits by £1,000 a year, as well as widening eligibility for these benefits. Sick pay Statutory sick pay to be made available from day one, rather than day four, of absence from work, although ministers have been criticised for not increasing the level of sick pay above £94.25 a week. Small firms can claim for state refunds on sick pay bills. Other Local authorities to get a £500m hardship fund to provide people with council tax payment relief. Mortgage and rental holidays available for up to three months.

Redrow shares fell 8.6% after the housebuilder issued a Covid-19 update to investors. The company said it had stopped building new homes, was putting a significant number of employees on temporary leave and was in talks with banks to shore up its finances as the coronavirus hammers the construction industry.

A slew of companies warned of negative effects from the virus response. They included:

Gatwick airport, which said it would shut one of its two terminals following a collapse in passenger numbers.

Rolls-Royce, the aircraft engine manufacturer, said it planned to significantly reduce all non-essential activity at its civil aerospace sites in Britain from midnight.

Cairn Energy, a North Sea oil producer, said it had that cut spending plans. More than 4,000 oil rig contractors in the North Sea have already lost their jobs, according to the lobby group Oil & Gas UK.

Finsbury Food Group stopped production at its Manchester factory with the market for food services at pubs, restaurants and schools all but disappearing.

The crisis has forced large parts of the economy to shut down as people are advised to work from home where possible, and anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 being required to self-isolate.

The prospect of the disease spreading could also imperil the operation of other services. Royal Mail on Friday warned that it could be forced to reduce postal services because of the impact of the coronavirus.

In a statement to the stock market, it said: “In recent weeks, we have seen rising levels of sick absence as colleagues self-isolate or care for family members. We cannot rule out reductions to services as Covid-19 develops.”

The company also cancelled its dividend for the year, warning that its UK parcels, international and letters business would be materially loss making in the 2020-21 financial year, while profits at its European parcels division GLS would be “significantly reduced”.

Many companies have warned they cannot estimate the size of the financial impact from the crisis. Balfour Beatty, a builder of infrastructure and other large construction projects, postponed its annual meeting and dividend on Friday, saying it did not know what the final impact of the lockdown would be.