19 Dec 2025

Australian shares recorded modest gains last week, with financials driving the positive momentum, though the S&P/ASX 200 ended a three-week winning streak with a weekly decline of 0.8%.Investors remain cautious amid expectations for possible rate hikes in 2026 after inflation remained persistently high and the Reserve Bank of Australia adopted a hawkish stance. Banking stocks and consumer discretionary sectors showed resilience, while miners faced pressure. Market participants are closely watching the RBA's upcoming meeting minutes and early January inflation data to gauge future monetary policy and its impact on sectors.Read more

19 Dec 2025

Skanska AB has completed the construction of a new city hall in Franklin, Tennessee, with a project cost of USD 53 million (around SEK 520 million). The facility includes administrative offices, meeting spaces, and public service areas, designed to improve city operations and accessibility for residents. The project aligns with Skanska's broader strategy of delivering large-scale civic and municipal projects across North America. Known for sustainable and efficient building practices, the company has added another landmark to its portfolio, reinforcing its position in the U.S. market and supporting local government operations with modern infrastructure.Read more

19 Dec 2025

Apartment building permits in Germany have increased, reflecting a steady recovery in the property sector. In October, approvals rose 6.8% compared with the same month last year, reaching 19,900 permits 1,300 more than the previous year. This growth contributed to an overall 11.2% rise in building permits during the first ten months of 2025. Analysts view the trend as a sign of renewed confidence among developers and a stabilizing market. The data indicates that Germany's housing sector is gradually regaining momentum after periods of slower growth.Read more

19 Dec 2025

Russia's government has directed state-owned Russian Railways to sell the 62-storey Moscow Towers skyscraper in central Moscow as part of efforts to manage the company's mounting debt burden, estimated at around USD 50 billion. The landmark asset, acquired last year for roughly USD 2.4 billion, is expected to be sold at no less than its purchase value. The move follows a slowdown in revenues and sharply higher borrowing costs amid elevated interest rates. Proceeds from the sale are intended to reduce debt and avoid sharp increases in cargo transportation tariffs, while broader financial support measures remain under discussion.Read more

19 Dec 2025

Japan's Sumitomo Realty and Development is deepening its India presence by concentrating investments entirely in Mumbai and prioritising a rental-led serviced apartment strategy over outright home sales. Viewing Mumbai as its second growth engine after Tokyo, the developer is pursuing ground-up construction in prime locations amid land scarcity and rising rents. Unlike peers partnering locally or acquiring ready assets, Sumitomo is backing long-term rental income through managed residential and office assets. With five ongoing projects in Mumbai, including four in Bandra Kurla Complex, the company sees sustained demand, lower construction costs compared with global cities, and stable cash flows to support future expansion.Read more

19 Dec 2025

CPP Investments, Dream Industrial REIT, and Dream Asset Management Corporation have established a USD 3 billion joint venture focused on Canadian industrial real estate. The venture's first move involves acquiring a 3.6 million sq ft portfolio from Dream Industrial REIT for USD 805 million. The transaction enables the REIT to recycle capital while remaining connected to the assets. Backed by long-term institutional funding, the partnership aims to build scale in a market supported by logistics demand, e-commerce growth, and resilient industrial fundamentals across Canada.Read more

19 Dec 2025

Tecom Group has launched Phase 4 of its Innovation Hub at Dubai Internet City with an investment of AED 615 million. The development forms part of the group's ongoing expansion of one of the UAE's most prominent technology-focused business districts. The new phase builds on earlier stages of the Innovation Hub, which were created to support technology firms, startups, and innovation-led businesses. Dubai Internet City continues to attract global and regional companies, and the latest investment reflects sustained demand for modern, flexible workspaces within the technology and digital services sector.Read more

18 Dec 2025

Data centre-focused real estate investor Fermi has denied media reports linking Amazon to its stalled Texas data centre project. The company clarified that Amazon was never involved as a prospective tenant or funding partner for the development. The statement followed a report suggesting Amazon had held talks to lease space and later pulled out of a construction funding agreement. Fermi said these claims were incorrect and misleading. Earlier, the company disclosed that an unnamed prospective tenant had terminated an agreement that could have contributed up to USD 150 million towards construction, triggering a sharp fall in its share price. Fermi continues to position its Texas project as part of its long-term data infrastructure expansion strategy.Read more

18 Dec 2025

Paramount Corporation Bhd has announced that a subsidiary plans to acquire three parcels of leasehold land in Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan for MYR 113.5 million. The proposal was disclosed through a regulatory filing, with no details shared on land size, exact location, or intended use. Selangor remains a key development market due to strong infrastructure and steady demand. The acquisition aligns with Paramount's cautious land banking approach aimed at supporting future development while maintaining flexibility in project execution.Read more

18 Dec 2025

Shares of Hut 8 rose sharply after the company announced a long-term agreement valued at around USD 7 billion to lease and develop a large-scale data centre in Louisiana, signalling a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence infrastructure. The move highlights the growing trend of former cryptocurrency miners repositioning their power-intensive assets to cater to rising demand from AI developers. The planned facility will be developed under a 15-year lease and is expected to come online in phases. The agreement also deepens Hut 8’s collaboration with AI-focused partners, underlining the increasing competition among global technology firms to secure energy-rich data centre capacity.Read more