Taylor Wimpey’s profits have plunged 96%, the housebuilder revealed in its half year trading statement to 30 June. In the first half of 2008, the housebuilder made a profit of £4.3 million, compared to last year’s first half figure of £119.8 million. The plc company’s gearing – amount of debt – rose from 34.1% in the first half of this …