Chile: Growth Disappoints in March and in Q1

Chile: Growth Disappoints in March and in Q1

Nader Nazmi - Market Economics
Latam Macro Snapshot | 06 May 2013 14:50 |

Chile’s monthly GDP (Imacec) fell well short of expectations with growth slowing to a 20-month low in March. Real GDP growth decelerated from 3.8% y/y in February to 3.1% y/y in March compared to the consensus and our projections of 4.7% y/y and 5.1% y/y, respectively. A 3.0% y/y contraction in manufacturing output was the main drag on growth, as expected. Growth in the service sector (+4.1% y/y), however, also disappointed. Mining output increased 6.9% y/y.

Sun Sentinel Investigation: Tax lien sharks use shell companies to squeeze out locals

Sun Sentinel Investigation: Tax lien sharks use shell companies to squeeze out locals

By Megan O'Matz and John Maines, Sun Sentinel
5:47 p.m. EDT, May 3, 2013

Tax lien auctions are a little-known but juicy Florida financial market worth up to $1 billion a year. And, the Sun Sentinel has found, banks, hedge funds and other financial powerhouses have hit upon a way to game the system, squeeze out the little guy and gobble up most of the good deals.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-inside-florida-tax-lien-market-20130428,0,2224747,full.story

US insurers target European commercial real estate debt

US insurers target European commercial real estate debt
Author: Louie Woodall
Source: Insurance Risk | 03 May 2013
Categories: Asset allocation, Insurance

Attractive yields and supply demand mismatch spur interest

American insurers are increasing their investment in UK and European commercial real estate (CRE) debt, as domestic insurers struggle to meet burgeoning demand.

http://www.risk.net/insurance-risk/news/2266005/us-insurers-target-european-commercial-real-estate-debt

Investors eyeing active regional office markets outside London

Investors eyeing active regional office markets outside London

1 May 2013 by Simret Samra
Posted in News Headlines

Key regional office markets outside of London witnessed a resurgence of interest from investors in Q1 2013, with strong demand for prime office stock.

http://www.knightfrankblog.com/commercial-briefing/news-headlines/investors-eyeing-active-regional-office-markets-outside-of-london/

Q1 2013 occupier activity increases by 25% in UK’s Big Six office markets

Q1 2013 occupier activity increases by 25% in UK’s Big Six office markets
Current occupier demand levels, prelets and speculative starts buoy optimism

London, 1 May 2013 – Signs of recovery across the UK’S Big Six* regional office markets continued during the first quarter of 2013 (Q1 2013) with total occupier take-up reaching one million sq ft, an increase of 25% compared with the same period last year, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s latest research.

http://www.joneslanglasalle.co.uk/UnitedKingdom/EN-GB/Pages/NewsItem.aspx?ItemID=27899

BIS warns of Melbourne office market “panic”

BIS warns of Melbourne office market “panic”
Posted by Unconventional Economist in Australian Propertyon April 30, 2013 |

By Leith van Onselen

Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley released detailed analysis pointing to a big ramp-up in office construction and office vacancy rates in Melbourne over the next couple of years.

http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/04/bis-warns-of-melbourne-office-market-panic/

Here Comes the Next Hot Emerging Market: the U.S.

THE INTELLIGENT INVESTOR
April 24, 2013, 12:25 p.m. ET

Here Comes the Next Hot Emerging Market: the U.S.

By JASON ZWEIG

The investment visionary who coined the term "emerging markets" and helped launch the first funds to invest in developing countries thinks he has spotted what you might call the next great emerging market.

It is called "the United States."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324763404578432832232151840.html

Samsung SRA Asset Management and Cushman & Wakefield Investors acquire 30 Crown Place in the City of London

SAMSUNG SRA ASSET MANAGEMENT AND CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD INVESTORS ACQUIRE 30 CROWN PLACE IN THE CITY OF LONDON
24 Apr, 2013, London

Samsung SRA Asset Management ('Samsung SRA') through Cushman & Wakefield Investors ('CWI') has acquired 30 Crown Place, London EC2, on behalf of South Korean institutional investors from a fund managed by Hannover Leasing GmbH & Co. KG.

http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/newsDetail.jsp?Language=EN&repId=c59700005p&Country=GB

Distressed Debt Buyers Eye European Market

Distressed Debt Buyers Eye European Market
Apr. 24, 2013
Beth Mattson-Teig

Investors hunting for higher yields are turning their attention to Europe, where a substantial pipeline of distressed commercial real estate debt is poised to hit the market.

http://nreionline.com/private-equity/distressed-debt-buyers-eye-european-market

Top of Mind: Bond Bubble Breakdown

Top of Mind: Bond Bubble Breakdown

Published April 22, 2013

Hi all, just out with a new Top of Mind: Bond Bubble Breakdown. Near multi-generational low bond yields, driven at least in part by US Federal Reserve asset purchases, has pushed the question of whether or not the bond market is a bubble to Top of Mind.