Tue, 03 Jul 2007, 06:54

Chicago-based LaSalle Investment Management has assembled a 14-strong team of professionals to capitalise on Mexico's growing and improving real estate market and the increased availability of debt to enhance returns, in preparation for the launch of a Mexican fund that may raise up to USD500m.

Alpha Beta Fund Management, a London-based investment boutique specialising in property derivative products, is launching a UK Residential Index Fund that aims to give investors such as pension funds and fund of funds managers easy access to the country's largest investment asset class.

Tue, 03 Jul 2007, 02:07
Daily Telegraph

Remember the great pre-REIT surge? As investors of all shapes and sizes got over-excited about the returns promised by property companies turning themselves into REITs - Real Estate Investment Trusts - so shares soared and there was many a winning to be had. The problem was that as the majority of the large quoted British real estate firms turned into REITs, so the tide began to turn. Analysts warned the returns had been over-estimated, and numerous companies warned of a slowing market. So it was that many share prices in the sector began to move south again. Great Portland Estates was one of those affected - with its shares slipping from a high of 802½p in early April to 651½p on Monday night. So does this create a buying opportunity, or merely a downward slump?