UK- Figures released by HSBC and the Association of Property Unit Trusts (APUT) show pooled property funds have outperformed equities and gilts for the second year running.

The APUT/HSBC pooled property fund indices measure the comparative performance of 27 widely-marketed property funds and the latest figures confirm pooled property funds outperforming equities and gilts over the past three and five years.

In 2001 the All Pooled Property Fund Index achieved a return of 6.6% while equities managed –13.3% and gilts 3.9%. Real estate equities outperformed the average and the FTSE real estate index fell 6% last year.

Says Ian Mason, chairman of the association: “for the second year running property is the top performing asset class over five years. These numbers speak for themselves and, backed up with the fact that the forecast returns for this sector are expected to deliver equally good comparative returns over the medium term, the case for property remains clear.”