Property Investment

Real estate investment trusts (Reits) will be allowed to include stock dividends as part of their 90% income distribution requirements, Chancellor Alistair Darling has confirmed.

Interactive Financial Adviser

"Property is likely to increase in 2010 as investors seek alternative sources of income and ways of hedging against the threat of inflation," says Threadneedle's Don Jordison

The average house price has increased in real terms by 273% over the past 50 years, according to the Halifax.

Henderson will re-open its suspended New Star International Property fund on 12 February.

New Star's £741m UK Property fund has made its first purchase in over two years, a £10.5m retail unit in Chichester.

Property continued to top the retail best seller table in November for the second month running in what proved a bumper period for fund inflows, according to IMA figures.

Henderson has agreed the final sale needed in order to re-open its New Star International Property fund, which has been suspended since 25 November 2008.

Interactive Financial Adviser

Skandia has appointed Cohen & Steers to manage its $300m Reits Global Property Securities fund in place of La Salle Investment Management, which had run the fund since its launch in 2005.