Total returns for SA commercial property accelerated to 23.4% in 2004, up from 15.3% in 2003, breaking the previous record of 17.4% set in 1997

Hot listed property market has run ahead of itself, while speculators in residential real estate should cash in.

Property investment company Marshalls reports a rise in its headline earnings per share for the year to end-December 2004 to 12.5 cents from 5.3 cents in 2003

Listed property unit trust Martprop Property Fund announced interim distributions on Friday that were below the listed property sector average.

Top-performing Spearhead grows earnings 43%, raises distribution 19%.

Listed property loan stock company Redefine Income Fund said yesterday that it had purchased nine properties with long leases from the Collins Property Group for R252,5m at a forward yield of 10,7%.

Commentators say move may boost confidence in SA and lead to increase in letting of office and industrial premises

INDUSTRIAL property loan stock company Metboard Properties says the small increase in its distribution this year is due to an increase in fund expenses, as it implemented a market-related asset management fee for the first time.

For the year ended March 31 2004

Metboard Properties Limited announced a total distribution of 39c per linked unit for the year ended 31 March 2004.