There were 58,826 sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in the first half of the year, a 54.9% increase compared with the second half of 2008 - but a 21.9% fall compared with the first half of 2008, according to the Land Registry.

The total amount of consideration involved in these agreements was $205.65 billion, a 65.3% rise from the second half of 2008 but a 28.8% fall from the first half of 2008.

The number of assignments of building units for the first half of this year was 51,056. That is 18.3% fewer than in the second half of 2008 and 49.2% fewer than in the first half of 2008.

The total amount of consideration for these assignments was $151.32 billion, a 19% fall from the second half of 2008 and a 57.6% drop from the first half of 2008.