06 Aug 2026

Australia-based Maas Group has raised its annual earnings forecast after securing a major order worth AUD 855 million from AI infrastructure company Firmus. The deal, signed under an existing Master Services Agreement, involves supplying modular electrical infrastructure and has also prompted the company to increase its investment in Firmus. Maas will invest an additional AUD 300 million, taking its stake in the Nvidia-backed company to 3.2%. The company said the investment aligns with its long-term strategy of expanding its presence in digital infrastructure while strengthening future earnings.Read more

06 Aug 2026

Wildfires burning around Spokane, Washington, have destroyed more than 700 buildings and forced nearly 64,000 people to evacuate as firefighters continue battling three major blazes. The fires have spread across more than 8,000 acres, making them the highest firefighting priority in the United States amid widespread wildfire activity across the Pacific Northwest. Officials have warned that the number of damaged structures could rise as inaccessible areas are assessed. While no deaths or injuries have been confirmed, authorities expect the situation to become clearer once search teams are able to safely enter affected neighbourhoods.Read more

06 Aug 2026

Wildberries is moving ahead with the construction of 260,000 square metres of warehouse space in Kazakhstan as part of its long-term regional expansion strategy. Kazakhstan's trade minister said the new logistics facilities are expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2027. The expansion comes at a time when several of the company's warehouses in Russia have been affected by repeated Ukrainian drone attacks, disrupting its logistics network. The new facilities are expected to strengthen Wildberries' distribution capacity in Central Asia while supporting its growing cross-border e-commerce operations.Read more

06 Aug 2026

Segro has agreed to be acquired by U.S.-based logistics real estate company Prologis in a deal valued at up to USD 19.19 billion after investor pressure encouraged both companies to engage in discussions. The agreement follows multiple earlier proposals that Segro had rejected before indicating its willingness to consider a final offer. The transaction will combine two major warehouse owners with expanding data centre ambitions linked to AI demand. The deal is among the UK's biggest corporate transactions this year and includes a mix of Prologis shares, a cash alternative, a potential dividend, and plans for a possible London listing of the combined business.Read more

06 Aug 2026

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has directed government officials to complete follow-up reviews of housing supply and financial measures within the next two to three days, underscoring the need to address a persistent housing supply shortage that has existed since 2022. During a high-level meeting on the country's property and stock markets, Lee instructed ministries to maximise available housing supply and examine administrative, financial, fiscal and regulatory interventions to expedite project delivery. The directions came shortly after the finance ministry proposed amendments to the tax code that would increase the tax burden on owners of multiple and high-value homes while expanding property tax exemptions for certain owner-occupiers.Read more

05 Aug 2026

Two people were seriously injured after a building collapsed in Sydney's Ultimo suburb, located close to the city's central business district. Emergency services responded to the incident and assessed seven people at the site, with two requiring hospitalisation. Television footage showed a collapsed wall of a large building situated near a construction site. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the collapse, and further investigations are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.Read more

05 Aug 2026

Federal Realty Investment Trust has raised its full-year core profit forecast after reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter results, supported by healthy leasing demand and higher rental income across its shopping centre portfolio. The real estate investment trust recorded growth in core funds from operations, revenue, rental income and occupancy levels during the quarter. The improved performance reflects continued demand for retail space in densely populated, high-income markets where the company owns shopping centres and mixed-use developments. Higher leased occupancy also indicates sustained tenant demand despite a changing retail environment.Read more

05 Aug 2026

South Korea has proposed changes to its property tax system to increase taxes on wealthy and multiple homeowners while offering relief to owner-occupiers with lower-value homes. The move comes as the government looks to address persistent house price inflation and growing public concern over housing affordability. Alongside the tax proposals, authorities are also introducing incentives for key domestic industries. The measures follow months of policy discussions on the property market and come after the central bank raised interest rates over concerns about rising home prices and inflation.Read more

05 Aug 2026

JPMorgan has announced plans to deploy more than USD 750 billion towards housing initiatives in the United States through 2035 under its American Dream Initiative. The programme aims to increase housing supply, expand homeownership and support affordable housing development. The bank plans to increase mortgage lending by more than 40%, helping around 500,000 customers purchase homes, while supporting the production and preservation of over one million affordable housing units. The initiative also includes expanding its home lending workforce and participating in housing policy discussions, as the US housing market continues to face supply shortages, elevated borrowing costs and high home prices.Read more

05 Aug 2026

Australia’s housing market recorded a second consecutive month of sharper price declines, with national home values falling further in July as high borrowing costs and uncertainty over proposed tax changes weighed on buyer and seller sentiment. Sydney and Melbourne remained the weakest-performing markets, while the slowdown also spread to mid-sized cities. The weakening trend has drawn attention from the Reserve Bank of Australia, as softer housing activity could have broader implications for the country's economy, including the real estate, construction and home services sectors.Read more