In this paper, we consider the set $\mathcal{S} = a(e^X K e^Y)$ where $a(g)$ is the abelian part in the Cartan decomposition of $g$. This is exactly the support of the measure intervening in the product formula for the spherical functions on symmetric spaces of noncompact type. We give a simple description of that support in the case of $\SL(3,\mathbf{F})$ where $\mathbf{F} = \mathbf{R}$, $\mathbf{C}$ or $\mathbf{H}$. In particular, we show that $\mathcal{S}$ is convex. We also give an application of our result to the description of singular values of a product of two arbitrary matrices with prescribed singular values.

If $G$ is a closed subgroup of a commutative hypergroup $K$, then the coset space $K/G$ carries a quotient hypergroup structure. In this paper, we study related convolution structures on $K/G$ coming from deformations of the quotient hypergroup structure by certain functions on $K$ which we call partial characters with respect to $G$. They are usually not probability-preserving, but lead to so-called signed hypergroups on $K/G$. A first example is provided by the Laguerre convolution on $\left[ 0,\infty \right[$, which is interpreted as a signed quotient hypergroup convolution derived from the Heisenberg group. Moreover, signed hypergroups associated with the Gelfand pair $\bigl( U(n,1), U(n) \bigr)$ are discussed.