Robin Marriott

China's real estate sector has expanded in terms of investment deals, with $25bn of property transactions in the first half of the year. However it has been mainly driven by domestic investors. Deals by foreign firms declined by more than two-thirds over the past year.

The New York-based firm is planning a final close of its latest European real estate vehicle in the New Year, according to a director of the firm speaking at a conference in London today.

The largest commercial property lender in Germany and one of the largest in Europe is merging its European structured finance team, likely to lead to 10 job losses.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund has for the first time backed female-founded Asia Alternatives as well as African American-led GenNx360 Capital. The pension estimates a 20% loss since April.

The placement agent has moved Franklyn Chang from its Connecticut office and hired former UBS placement agent Christophe Pietersen and Stephanie Brendel, previously with Bear Stearns.

Apollo has made an investment for its latest European fund by investing in German property. The seller was listed UK real estate company and fund manager Capital & Regional which branched out into Germany in recent years.

Axel Wieandt, global head of corporate investments at Deutsche Bank, will take up the role of chief executive at Hypo Real Estate from Monday.

The Expo Real property show in Germany has been rocked this afternoon by news that Georg Funke, chief executive officer of Hypo Real Estate, has been forced to resign with immediate effect.

Relief is felt as the German commercial real estate lender recovers some of the heavy falls it suffered on Monday when news of a €35bn financial package sent shares in the company tumbling.

The troubled German real estate lender today clarified its situation, suggesting comments by the German finance ministry had been misinterpreted.