UK homebuilders, property stocks extend gains after BoE sees rate cut nearing

** Shares of UK homebuilders’ index .FTNMX402020 and FTSE Real Estate index .FTUB3510, which includes commercial property firms and real estate investment trusts (REITs), extend gains from morning trade, adding1.6% and 2%, respectively

** Bank of England keeps interest rates at a near 16-year high of 5.25%, but says Britain’s economy “moving in the right direction” for it to start cutting interest rates

** FTSE 100 housebuilders Barratt BDEV.L, Persimmon PSN.L, Taylor Wimpey TW.L and Berkeley BKGH.L gain between 1.7% and 2.4%

** FTSE 100 commercial property firm Land Securities LAND.L rise about 3%

** British Land BLND.L top pct gainer on the real estate index, gaining ~4%

Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru