U.S. real estate rally seen sustainable in 2004 - 2004-03-11
The sizzling performance of U.S. Real Estate Investment Trusts over the past year looks unlikely to abate in 2004 due to the sheer weight of capital being drawn to the sector.

The unattractiveness of fixed income investments at this stage in the U.S. interest rate cycle, with rates expected to move higher, low mortgage rates plus consensus forecasts of modest equities returns of an average five to eight percent over the next five years are all feeding this real estate trend, Thurber said.
Read the full story at Forbes

Mortgage endowments black hole hits £40bn - 2004-03-11
As many as eight out of 10 endowment mortgage holders are facing a deficit on their policy due to a catalogue of failings by providers, MPs have said.

As well as facing an average shortfall of £5,500, 60% of policyholders could have been victims of mis-selling, the Treasury Select Committee report added.
Read the full story at BBC