Buyers shrugged off concerns over the outbreak of the swine flu and turned out in force to drive deal-making in the secondary market up by about 50 per cent last week.

Data collated from 50 large housing estates monitored by Ricacorp Properties shows transactions rose 49.16% to 443 for the week, compared with 297 recorded in the previous week. Average transaction prices edged up 0.4% week on week.

The turnout of buyers was welcomed by agents who feared that prospective buyers could turn cautious because of the outbreak of the flu virus.

South China Morning Post