12 Mar 2026

China is planning to expand and strengthen highway infrastructure in border regions close to India under its upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. The draft proposal includes construction of a 394 km highway in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to improve connectivity between the northern and southern sides of the Tianshan Mountains. The planned route will run parallel to a strategic road passing through the disputed Aksai Chin region. The broader plan also includes upgrading three existing highways connected to Tibet and continuing work on the Dushanzi Kuqa highway project, which is expected to be completed in 2032.Read more

11 Mar 2026

A federal jury in Manhattan has convicted brothers Oren Alexander, Tal Alexander and Alon Alexander in a high-profile sex trafficking case involving allegations that women were lured to exclusive parties and sexually abused. Prosecutors argued that the brothers used a pattern of manipulation to isolate and assault victims, while the defense maintained the encounters were consensual. The case followed a months-long trial during which 11 women testified about abuse. Oren and Tal Alexander, known figures in New York's luxury real estate brokerage industry and co-founders of Official, now face sentencing while their legal teams consider an appeal.Read more

11 Mar 2026

Existing home sales in the United States rose unexpectedly in February as declining mortgage rates and slower house-price growth encouraged buyers to return to the market. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales increased 1.7% month-on-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million units, surpassing economists' expectations of a decline. However, the market continues to face supply constraints, with inventory remaining below pre-pandemic levels despite a modest rise. The median existing home price increased 0.3% year-on-year to USD 398,000, while housing supply rose to 1.29 million units. Analysts suggest that although improving affordability and easing borrowing costs have supported demand, limited housing inventory could restrict sales momentum during the spring home-buying season.Read more

11 Mar 2026

CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust Management has successfully issued SGD 300 million of fixed-rate green notes with a 2.18% interest rate, set to mature in 2031. The issuance is part of the trust's USD 7 billion Euro Medium Term Note (MTN) program, strengthening its financing flexibility. The green notes are aligned with sustainable investment initiatives, reflecting the trust's focus on environmentally responsible projects. This strategic move enhances the trust's ability to fund long-term developments while providing investors with stable, fixed-income opportunities linked to green projects.Read more

11 Mar 2026

Asiasec Properties Ltd has indicated that it expects a net loss of between HKD 210 million and HKD 220 million for the fiscal year 2025, mainly attributed to a decrease in the fair value of its investment properties. The company's property portfolio, which spans commercial and residential assets in key markets, has faced valuation pressures amid changing market conditions. Analysts note that this follows a trend of moderate performance declines in the Hong Kong real estate sector over recent years, driven by cautious investment sentiment and market adjustments.Read more

11 Mar 2026

British homebuilder Persimmon has projected a strong performance for 2026, expecting both higher profits and increased home deliveries, placing it at the top end of market estimates. The company reported pre-tax profits of 445.6 million pounds for 2025, surpassing expectations, with early-year sales showing continued strength. Its vertical integration, including in-house production of bricks, tiles, and timber frames, has protected it from cost pressures affecting competitors. Analysts highlighted Persimmon's strategic execution as a reason for its strong positioning despite sector-wide challenges and geopolitical uncertainties.Read more

11 Mar 2026

Burstone Group has entered a joint venture with Hines European Real Estate Partners III (HEREP III), with the partners committing EUR 160 million in equity to a new investment platform. The partnership reflects Burstone's strategy to expand its fund and investment management activities alongside global institutional investors. HEREP III, a Europe-focused value-add real estate fund managed by Hines, targets opportunities across sectors such as logistics, residential, and office properties. The collaboration is expected to help both firms scale investments across European markets while leveraging Burstone's asset management capabilities and Hines established investment platform and investor network.Read more

11 Mar 2026

Country Garden Holdings Co. Ltd has approved the allotment and issuance of 36 million additional work fee shares as part of its ongoing restructuring process. The shares will be issued at a price of HKD 0.30 per share to GLAS HK under a general mandate. The company stated that GLAS HK will dispose of these shares as soon as reasonably practicable in order to settle outstanding work fees related to the restructuring arrangement. The move forms part of Country Garden's broader efforts to address financial obligations and progress with its proposed debt restructuring, which has been under close observation by global investors.Read more

11 Mar 2026

Nasdaq has announced a collaboration with Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, to develop infrastructure that supports the tokenization of financial assets. The initiative aims to enable securities to move from traditional institutional trading systems onto blockchain networks. The exchange operator is also working with Germany-based Boerse Stuttgart to support settlement of blockchain-based equities in Europe. The move comes as global exchanges and trading platforms increase efforts to introduce tokenized securities and expand blockchain-based market infrastructure.Read more

10 Mar 2026

ZAGA Capital Partners has raised 210 million euros in equity for its ZAGA German Real Asset Opportunities II fund, strengthening its strategy focused on investing in the German property market. With the latest fundraising, the firm has secured around 500 million euros in total capital for its German real estate investment platform. The fundraising comes at a time when Germany's housing market is expected to stabilise after a period of slowdown driven by higher borrowing costs and rising construction expenses. According to a recent survey of property analysts, house prices in Germany are estimated to have risen by about 3.5% in 2025 and are expected to grow at a slower pace of around 3% annually over the next two years.Read more