06 February 2003 12:00am

Also from S&P research, Australian Mortgage Securities has emerged as one of the biggest mortgage funders in Australia.

AMS managed $8.6 billion in mortgage loans at June 2002, 23 per cent more than in 2001, and 47 per cent more than in 2000, S&P reported.

AMS is now owned by Australian Financial Investment Group, owned one quarter each by Mark Bouris, ABN AMRO, ConsPress (including Ecorp) and Deutsche Asset Management.