Portfolio protection set to help investors ? commercial mortgages

22 June 2007

Investors in commercial property have been boosted by the news that the Association of Private Client Investment Managers (Apcims) is adding property to its existing set of category indices.

The trade body will now be able to provide information regarding growth in the commercial property sector when the feature is added to the indices this month, the Times has reported.

However, the move has been criticised as a sign that Apcims is only just waking up to what has been a highly profitable sector for investors with commercial mortgages and others in the past.

"Apcims has been incredibly slow to include property, which has historically been part of people''s portfolios," commented Justin Urquhart-Stewart of Seven Investment Management, speaking to the Times.

Earlier this week it was reported that demand for commercial property is set to pick up across the UK over the next six months, with property consultants King Sturge advising that interest in the north east of England was gaining momentum.