15 Jun 2026

Britain’s housing market continued to face pressure in the past month, with buyer demand, sales activity and house prices remaining subdued, according to a survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). While there were early signs that buyer interest may be stabilising, concerns over potential interest rate increases continue to weigh on market sentiment. The rental sector also showed signs of strain, as landlords reduced the number of properties available for rent following the introduction of new tenant protection measures. At the same time, tenant demand strengthened, adding further pressure to rental prices.Read more

15 Jun 2026

Chinese authorities have summoned two major state-owned construction companies after investigations linked them to serious safety failures behind two major infrastructure incidents. Regulators found that negligence, falsified records, illegal subcontracting and weak safety oversight contributed to a deadly road collapse in southern China and the partial collapse of a newly built bridge in the southwest. Multiple government departments have directed the companies to strengthen safety management and prevent similar incidents, highlighting growing scrutiny of construction quality and infrastructure safety across the country.Read more

15 Jun 2026

Vietnam's Vingroup is accelerating the construction of a 135,000-seat stadium near Hanoi, which the company says will become the world's largest stadium upon completion. The project forms part of a USD 35 billion Olympic Sports City development and is expected to be completed by July 2027, a year ahead of its original schedule. While experts have questioned whether current demand can support a venue of this scale, Vingroup believes the stadium will remain commercially sustainable over the long term. The development also aligns with Vietnam's broader infrastructure expansion programme, which includes projects worth an estimated USD 200 billion by 2030.Read more

15 Jun 2026

Italy's data centre sector is expected to attract around EUR 22 billion in investments over the next five years, with the Lombardy region projected to receive nearly half of that amount. Regional authorities have introduced new regulations aimed at managing the rapid growth of data centres while encouraging development on abandoned industrial land rather than agricultural or environmentally sensitive areas. Meanwhile, southern Italy's Puglia region is also emerging as a key destination for digital infrastructure investments, supported by strong international connectivity and a growing pipeline of proposed projects.Read more

14 Jun 2026

US-based digital real estate platform Opendoor has decided to shut its India operations and lay off all 250 employees in the country as part of a broader operational restructuring driven by artificial intelligence adoption. The move affects the company’s offices in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, which were established two years ago to support workflow management across multiple systems. According to the company, advancements in AI and the consolidation of internal platforms have reduced the need for large operational teams. The decision comes amid growing concerns over the impact of AI on back-office and entry-level roles globally, while businesses increasingly prioritise customer-facing operations closer to their primary markets.Read more

14 Jun 2026

A California businessman has been charged with bank fraud in connection with an alleged scheme that prosecutors say misled Western Alliance Bancorp into providing nearly USD 100 million in financing. Authorities claim falsified title insurance policies were used to inflate the value of collateral backing real estate-related loans, allowing additional borrowing. The criminal case is linked to a civil lawsuit filed by the bank last year seeking recovery of USD 98.6 million. While the lender has not reported a loss so far, the case has drawn attention due to its connection with a broader investigation involving real estate lending activities.Read more

14 Jun 2026

Australia's second-largest lender, Westpac, has reported a decline in mortgage demand following the federal government's recent tax policy changes targeting property investors. The bank said overall mortgage applications have fallen by 10%, while investor loan applications have dropped by 20% since the measures were announced in the federal Budget. The policy changes include restrictions on negative gearing and reforms to capital gains taxation, which are expected to influence investor behaviour and slow housing credit growth. Westpac believes the measures could further moderate activity in Australia's residential property market over the coming years.Read more

14 Jun 2026

A court in the Italian city of Milan has upheld an earlier decision placing the Italian arm of US-based Caddell Construction under judicial control amid an ongoing labour exploitation investigation at the US consulate construction site. Prosecutors had earlier introduced emergency measures after allegations that workers recruited from India were subjected to long shifts, low wages, unsafe conditions, and threats of dismissal. The ruling noted possible systemic practices rather than isolated cases. The company has stated that it is cooperating with authorities while oversight and compliance checks continue alongside legal proceedings.Read more

14 Jun 2026

Samsung Electronics is reportedly considering setting up an advanced semiconductor packaging facility in Gwangju, South Korea, as demand for AI-related chips continues to grow. The proposed investment is expected to be discussed at an upcoming meeting between South Korea’s president and the heads of major business groups. The development comes as advanced chip packaging becomes increasingly important for AI applications, particularly high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. Separately, SK Hynix is also evaluating a new packaging facility in the country’s southwestern region, highlighting growing investment interest in semiconductor infrastructure linked to the expanding AI ecosystem.Read more

14 Jun 2026

Taylor Wimpey España has launched Infinity, a €64 million residential development comprising 79 homes in Paguera, Mallorca, as Spain’s housing market records its strongest sales activity in nearly two decades. Located in southwest Mallorca, the project will feature apartments and penthouses with sea views across the Malgrats Islands and is scheduled for completion in October 2028. The launch comes as Spain’s residential market continues to expand, with new-build sales rising 13.3% in 2025 and average property prices reaching a record €2,284 per sq m after a 9.5% annual increase. International buyers accounted for 13.82% of all housing purchases last year, with British buyers remaining the largest overseas buyer group.Read more