Property

1. Trump considers $1bn India real estate fund

   Donald Trump Jr is planning to establish a real estate fund of as much as $1bn (€633m) to invest in the Indian property market, according to a report in The Times of India.

2. Coutts sells prime office space in London

   Coutts, the UK wealth manager, has sold its main office in Cavendish Square in the heart of London’s West End for an undisclosed sum, although it will continue to have a presence in the square.

3. US property tycoon sells mansion for $100m

   Donald Trump, the US real estate tycoon and star of the US version of The Apprentice, has sold a Florida mansion to Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Russian fertiliser billionaire, for $100m (€63m), according to a report in The Daily Telegraph, London.

4. Property investors continues global push with hires

   CB Richard Ellis Investors, the real estate fund manager, has made three appointments to its Global multi-manager business in London and the US as it continues with an aggressive expansion of the division.

5. Irish banks sober up to souring property markets

   Ireland’s three largest banks may need to set aside up to €3bn ($4.8bn) between them over the next two years to cover their exposure to the deteriorating UK and Irish commercial and residential property markets.

6. Moscow becomes second most expensive office location in Europe

   Moscow has overtaken London’s Square Mile as the second most expensive office location in Europe, as the credit crunch begins to curtail rents in London's financial centre.

7. The rise of luxury eco homes

   Sheep’s-wool wall insulation, underfloor geothermal heating, rainwater harvesting and aerodynamic roofing: these are a few of the ways in which luxury developers are seeking to make homes more eco-friendly without sacrificing style.

8. Prince Charles risks reputation on property

   Over the years, a convention has developed by which leading members of the British royal family refrain from dabbling in commerce.

9. Banks face threat of real estate writedowns

   Banks are facing a new source of potential writedowns as property companies struggle with £34bn (€43bn) of UK commercial real estate debt that needs to be repaid or refinanced this year. The potential squeeze comes as UK commercial property values have fallen by as much as 20% in a year and the appetite of banks to write new loans has dropped sharply.

10. Ray of light for US property markets

    US property prices are expected to "firm up" next year and the financial markets are expected to make "a significant rebound" over the next 12 months, according to asset manager Edmond de Rothschild.