The property market provided the best returns for investors again last year. In its 1999 Investment Review, Hamilton Osborne King reports record turnover in commercial property at £712 million (€904 million) up from £600 million (€761 million) in the previous year.

Last year, it was the main investment institutions which were the biggest buyers of commercial property outpacing private investors for the first time in many years. Property companies accounted for around 10 per cent of turnover. Some 58 per cent of all commercial property investments were in the office market, of which 22 per cent was in Dublin 1, 8 per cent in Dublin 2 and 10 per cent in Dublin 4.

The Irish Property Index shows spectacular performance over the past four years compared to the UK and other markets. According to the index, all property returns were comfortably ahead of Irish equities and bonds last year.