Home purchasers' confidence declines

An index measuring home purchasers' confidence posted the first decline since the fourth quarter of 2011.

The index, compiled by real estate consultancy company WorldUnion Properties, stood at 56.8 in the first three months of 2013, down 0.2 percentage points than the previous quarter.

Despite the government's latest rigorous measures to cool down the market, more than 70 percent of buyers are forecasting a further price hike, with the proportion reaching a record high since this round of policy tightening.