USA Today: Home builders and investors both see signs of a turn

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2012-02-09/homebuilder-optimism/53032330/1

Home builders and investors both see signs of a turn
By Tim Mullaney, USA TODAY

Barb Jandric, the head of Minnesota's biggest real estate broker, hasn't seen the Minneapolis market boost sales without government aid in six years — until a narrow gain in 2011. Ryland Chief Executive Larry Nicholson hasn't seen a yearly profit since before the recession, but the home builder expects one this year, buoyed by a 31% increase in homes on order at year's end.

CNNMoney: Homes in foreclosure decline by 130,000

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/08/real_estate/foreclosure_inventory/index.htm?iid=HP_River

Homes in foreclosure decline by 130,000
By Les Christie @CNNMoney February 8, 2012: 9:07 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Slowly, but surely, the foreclosure crisis seems to be abating.

Oil and gas basins of Kazakhstan

Oil and gas basins of Kazakhstan

The oil & gas basins of Kazakhstan can be grouped into four revealed or prospective oil & gas provinces in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Exploration in those provinces in which oil and gas has already been extracted had, by 2010, led to the discovery of more than 200 oil, gas, oil-and-gas and condensate hydrocarbon accumulations. Of these, the Kashagen, the Tengiz and the Karachaganak fields can be considered giants.

CNNMoney: Bernanke: Fed will protect U.S. economy from Europe

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/02/news/economy/bernanke_congress_europe/index.htm?iid=HP_LN

Eyes on the Fed
Bernanke: Fed will protect U.S. economy from Europe
By Annalyn Censky @CNNMoney February 2, 2012: 1:21 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The recovery remains "frustrating slow" in the United States, and now Europe's debt crisis is posing additional challenges, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Thursday.

Back in Business: CRE Sales Volumes Make Strong Comeback

http://www.costar.com/

Back in Business: CRE Sales Volumes Make Strong Comeback
Just Like the Old Days, Deal Flow Returns to Historical Levels
By Mark Heschmeyer
February 1, 2012

The dollar volume of commercial real estate sales vaulted back to longterm historical levels in 2011. CoStar Group has confirmed $291.6 billion in CRE sales in 2011, a 32% increase over the sales volume in 2010.

Deutsche Bank nears £210m Merry Hill shopping centre CMBS closure

Deutsche Bank nears £210m Merry Hill shopping centre CMBS closure
By James Wallace - Wednesday, February 01, 2012 15:00

Deutsche Bank will imminently close the £210m single loan Merry Hill commercial mortgage-backed securitisation (CMBS), in a deal sold on both sides of the Atlantic, CoStar News can reveal.

http://www.costar.co.uk/en/assets/news/2012/January/Deustche-Bank-nears-210m-Merry-Hill-shopping-centre-CMBS-closure/

WSJ: Home Prices Tumble

WSJ: Home Prices Tumble

REAL ESTATE JANUARY 31, 2012, 7:38 P.M. ET.
Home Prices Tumble

U.S. home prices fell again in November, according to the Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller indexes, indicating continued struggles for the beleaguered housing market.

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries: COPPER

COPPER

(Data in thousand metric tons of copper content unless otherwise noted)

Domestic Production and Use: U.S. mine production of copper in 2011 increased slightly to about 1.1 million tons and its value rose to about $10 billion. Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and Montana—in descending order of production—accounted for more than 99% of domestic mine production; copper also was recovered in Idaho and Missouri. Twenty-nine mines recovered copper, 18 of which accounted for about 99% of production. Three primary smelters, 3 electrolytic and 3 fire refineries, and 15 electrowinning facilities operated during the year. Refined copper and scrap were consumed by about 30 brass mills, 15 rod mills, and 500 foundries and miscellaneous consumers. Copper and copper alloy products were used in building construction, 45%; electric and electronic products, 23%; transportation equipment, 12%; consumer and general products, 12%; and industrial machinery and equipment, 8%.[1]

New Report by Agency Lowers Estimates of Natural Gas in U.S.

http://www.nytimes.com/

News Analysis
New Report by Agency Lowers Estimates of Natural Gas in U.S.
By IAN URBINA
Published: January 28, 2012

WASHINGTON — Just how much natural gas is trapped underground in the United States?

The difficulty and uncertainty in predicting natural gas resources was underscored last week when the Energy Information Administration released a report containing sharply lower estimates.

Savills: German office market hits three year take-up high (DE)

Savills: German office market hits three year take-up high (DE)
Friday 20 January 2012

The five major German office markets of Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich ended 2011 on a three-year high in terms of take-up according to international real estate advisor Savills.
The firm’s research shows that total take-up reached approximately 2.85 million m², close to 2008 levels (approx. 2.9 million m²). Compared to 2010 turnover increases are just below 7%.

http://www.europe-re.com/system/main.php?pageid=2616&articleid=19509