In October, there were 6,054 flat sale and purchase agreements received for registration, down 17.8 % on September and 54.2% on a year earlier, the Land Registry says.

Using a 12-month moving average, the figure for October represented a 5% dip on September but a 6.7% rise on October last year. Total consideration was $18.9 billion, down 19.6% on September and 62.6% on a year earlier.

Of the sale and purchase pacts, 4,719 were for residential units, down 22.3% on September and 58.1% on last October. The total consideration was $16.3 billion, down 13.1% on September and 62.9% on a year earlier.