Bruzzone Strategics

For U.S. commercial real estate, top tier at least shows value increase

Core Story:  Financial Times

| 23 Nov 2010 | 05:57 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO-CA-- We rarely report on the periodic price variances but thought that this report from the Financial Times was noteworthy... keep in mind, that we have severely bifurcated markets.  The price increases reported below reflect the churning action among equity funds, REITS and advisors.  That market is improving. 

Still relatively stagnant are the lower, non-institutional markets --- which are pursued by private operators and high wealth individuals..  The lack of elaborate 1031 exchange 'trains', very tight lending standards, and continued tenant challenges has made these secondary markets less responsive.

"US commercial property prices recorded their biggest monthly gains on record in September, offering hope that the troubled market is bottoming out.

Equity Funds: Raising Taxes on Profits

^Rueters

^{Loopholes hard to find in U.S. fund tax battle}

12:07pm EDT

By Megan Davies and Kim Dixon

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers have given the investment fund industry an uphill task to try to find any loopholes in a proposal to raise taxes on the profits made on investments.

While lawyers have been working around-the-clock advising private equity clients on the impact, there aren't obvious ideas left that would avoid or skirt the tax.

The threat that Washington would raise taxes on the "carried interest" dollars executives earn has been looming for years but escalated in recent months and days as the government faced increasing pressure to raise money.