"The Olympics distraction did not deter new sellers from coming to market during August, with numbers marginally up on the same period a year ago, although asking prices have been adversely affected," said Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst.
The FTSE 100 Index rose 0.31 per cent, or 17.91 points to 5,852.42. The broader FTSE All-Share Index gained 0.41 per cent.