The SA Listed Property Index (J253) recorded a total return of 4.88% in December 2008. The Property Loan Stock Index (J256) and Property Unit Trust Index (J255) recorded returns of 4.19% and 6.99% respectively over the same period

Last Tuesday Growthpoint’s price leapt 9,9% to R15,50 on a record turnover of 30m shares. This when the listed property sector lies moribund on the margins of the world’s unravelling financial markets.

Equity index provider MSCI Barra has announced that it will be adding South African real estate company Growthpoint Properties Limited to the MSCI Emerging Markets stock index

The South African listed property sector has recovered 14,2% of its value since it bottomed out on July 3.

The pendulum seems to be swinging back towards the sector through there could still be further price depreciation.

Listed property sector can expect a quiet year due to property price volatility.

In spite of double-digit distribution growth, the South African listed property sector has lost 24% of its value since November

Although there is likely to be corporate activity in the form of mergers, even they will be affected by the pricing of units

The listed property sector lost 7,4% of its value over the past week as a weak rand and surging oil price weighed heavily on sentiment in the bond market

With share prices of property stocks down around 15% over the past month, the income yields available on some counters have now breached 10%