Bank of America profit rises 41 percent on Fleet purchase - 2004-07-14
Bank of America Corp., the third-largest U.S. bank, said second-quarter profit climbed 41 percent, boosted by the purchase of FleetBoston Financial Corp. and an increase in consumer lending.

Instead, the bank sells off investor-type real estate into conduits, such as mortgage-backed securities, to limit excessive exposure. Smith emphasized that it is a standing philosophy and is no indication of concerns over the current real estate market locally or nationally.
Read the full story at Las Vegas Sun

Low prices see brisk sales of landed homes - 2004-07-14
Singaporeans are grabbing landed homes in droves because they don't expect the chance of a 'cheap' buy to come around again with the economy in the middle of a strong recovery.

Annie Tan, Standard Chartered Bank's general manager of mortgages and auto, said the strong volume of landed home transactions became apparent in the second half of last year, partly due to pent-up demand after the Sars scare.
Read the full story at Shipping Times