Institutional buyers to double China bet (International Herald Tribune) Updated: 2006-07-13 14:25 Overseas institutional
investors like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group are expected to nearly
double their spending on real estate in China this year to US$7 billion,
according to Jones Lang LaSalle. "Overseas institutions are keen on
long-term returns, so it's a good time to enter the market now, with some
negative information damping prices and buying interest," Michael Hart, director
of China research for Jones Lang LaSalle, said
Wednesday. First-half sales to overseas institutions amounted to 70
percent of last year's total of US$3.56 billion, according to Jones Lang
LaSalle. The company's forecast of as much as US$7 billion of investment in 2006
was partly based on sales already signed but yet to be announced, Hart
said. Morgan Stanley bought two residential projects in Shanghai
for a combined US$187.5 million in April and June, according to Colliers
International, the real estate consultantcy. Goldman Sachs spent US$70 million
on an apartment project in Shanghai in April, Colliers said. Jones
Lang LaSalle, based in Chicago, is the largest U.S. commercial real estate
broker. (For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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