Mortgage rates dip to lowest level in 7 months - 2004-02-20
Mortgage rates around the country decreased this week to their lowest levels in seven months, great news for prospective home buyers.

The average rate on benchmark 30-year mortgages fell to 5.58 percent, down from 5.66 percent last week, Freddie Mac, the mortgage giant, said Thursday in its weekly nationwide survey of mortgage rates. This week's rate was the lowest since 5.52 percent for the week ending July 11.
Read the full story at Contra Costa Times

Alliance & Leicester posts strong profits growth - 2004-02-20
Alliance & Leicester concluded a healthy week for UK banks as it posted a 12% rise in annual profits to £525m, helped by a buoyant mortgage market and a surge in consumer lending.

During 2003, A&L had a 3% share of the mortgage market after achieving a record gross mortgage lending figure of £8.1bn, 27% higher than in 2002. The level of unsecured personal loans was also at an all-time high of £1.9bn - up 36% on a year earlier.
Read the full story at Guardian Unlimited