Average price for first house breaks £100,000 - 2004-02-04
The average price paid by first-time buyers for their first property is currently more than £100,000, compared with almost £83,000 in the same month last year.

The mortgage lender predicted that the Bank of England would increase the base rate to 4.5% by the end of 2004, and said that while increases in interest rates would have an adverse affect on affordability, mortgage payments would remain low as a percentage of income.
Read the full story at Guardian Unlimited

An Investment Legend's Advice - 2004-02-04
Warning to bull market enthusiasts: It's going to be a bumpy ride. That, at least, is the view of Sir John Templeton, the 91-year-old founder of the Templeton Funds who made a killing four years ago shorting technology stocks.

His big concern today: the U.S. consumer. He says Americans have taken on too much credit card and mortgage debt. Household borrowings hit a record $9 trillion last year, or 110% of personal disposable income.
Read the full story at Forbes