growth

Growth forecast at 3% to 3.5% this year

Housing markets in the UK, Spain, France and Ireland saw double-digit growth in 2003, but none are expected to maintain such high rates of inflation during 2004, suggests the RICS European housing survey.

Standard & Poor's, the credit ratings agency, says a review of US Growth fund managers shows most are bullish about the prospects of growth stocks through this year despite a slowdown in earnings growth expectations.