<b></b><p></p><p><b><b>McCarthy &amp;&amp; Stone yet again gave the City the results it wants last month - but this time with a note of caution for the future. Steve Menary talks to chief executive Keith Lovelock about McStone&amp;’s success, its niche in the retirement sector and the possible impact of September 11</b></b><br><b>With smaller players such as Abbey and Prowting reporting a drop in confidence among home buyers, the latest results from McCarthy &amp;&amp; Stone - one of the last reports this year from a major housebuilder - provided a key indicator of the housing market&amp;’s buoyancy.</b><br> Few in the City could moan about the actual results but the retirement home specialists&amp;’ warning of an &amp;“uncertain&amp;” outlook overshadowed record annual pre-tax profits of &amp;£60.5 million. </p><p><b><b>Caution</b></b><br> Keith Lovelock, the amiable chief executive of the Bournemouth-based group, is keen to clarify &amp;“uncertain&amp;” and his proposals to not start any new schemes for the time being.</p><p>&amp;“All we&amp;’re being cautious about is how we manage the stock,&amp;” he insists quietly. &amp;“We are cautious because September 11 has had an impact on the market. There is a question mark over whether it will have an impact on the world economy but at the moment we are still …