Property: a safe haven?

Uncertainty has been one of the prevailing themes in investment during much of 2004. Equity markets became range-bound due to worries about booming oil prices, corporate health and economic growth in key regions such as Europe, Asia Pacific and the US. Bond markets have been subject to interest rate increases in key regions such as the UK, US and China, and in a recent sector report, Standard & Poor's fund analysts commented on a fall in global bond yields as economic data softened and oil prices rose. Within this environment, property has been a relatively successful investment - and ...