Sterling rose on Monday after official data showed UK house prices rose in July and the cost of core goods leaving Britain's factories increased at the sharpest monthly rate in nine years in August. Official data showed UK house prices rose at an annual rate of 14.3 percent in July versus 13.9 percent in June. A separate release showed producer output prices excluding food, drink, tobacco and petroleum products rose by 0.5 percent in August -- the sharpest monthly rate since July 1995 and five times the rate predicted by analysts. Sterling rose near the day's high $1.7986 from $1.7955 just before the release. Against the euro it firmed to to the day's high 68.16 pence , erasing the day's losses against both currencies to stand unchanged on the day.///