New mortgage products as homebuyers return to the market - 2005-02-11
Datamonitor’s report, Mortgage Products for Australia First Time, has projected that with lending commitments to first home buyers totalling $25.7 billion new mortgage products will emerge in the market.

The report shows how the return of first home buyers could impact the mortgage business including introducing more innovative product offerings, focused marketing and an increase in equity sharing with lenders.
Read the full story at The Financial Standard

Trade deficit 5% of U.S. economy - 2005-02-11
The American trade deficit penetrated the $600 billion barrier in 2004, climbing to $617.7 billion, but the gap narrowed in December, in part because sharply lower oil prices cut the cost of energy imports.

The deficit now makes up for more than 5 percent of the U.S. economy, a level that adds further pressure to push down the value of the dollar and increases the amount of U.S. debt held overseas.
Read the full story at Los Angeles Daily News