Home Depot and Lowe's were expected to post modest sales growth as their quarterly results approached, offering insight into whether U.S. renovation and DIY spending was improving. Both retailers have faced higher raw material costs due to tariffs, though a temporary pause on duties was expected to ease pressure. Analysts said lower interest rates and rising home sales could support demand after high borrowing costs had delayed big-ticket projects. Comparable sales at Home Depot were forecast to rise 1.5%, while Lowe's was expected to see a 1% increase. With DIY demand soft, both companies expanded acquisitions to strengthen their professional contractor business amid ongoing economic uncertainty.Read more

The Marketing Alliance reported a little over a 6% year-on-year decline in fiscal Q2 2026 revenue, mainly due to delays in a major construction project. The slowdown also affected profitability, with net income dropping to USD 263,407 from USD 401,511 a year earlier. Insurance distribution revenue remained steady, but higher costs tied to product mix and ongoing business development efforts affected margins. The company also adjusted its revenue recognition approach for certain reimbursement and marketing revenues. Management expects the deferred construction revenue to move into the next quarter as project delays ease.Read more

Land Securities said many businesses delayed leasing decisions ahead of the UK budget, worried about possible property tax changes. This caution, along with softer property valuations in the first half of its financial year, contributed to a 4% drop in Landsec's share price. CEO Mark Allan noted slower enquiries and fewer completed leases as firms waited for greater clarity. Analysts suggested the weakness may be temporary. Despite the slowdown, Landsec raised its net rental income growth forecast for fiscal 2026 to 4%-5% and expects earnings per share to reach the upper end of its range. The company continues shifting away from non-core London offices toward retail and residential assets.Read more

Australia's leading banks recently moved to intensify their focus on proprietary mortgage channels as pressure on profitability continued to build. With the majority of new loans in the country now processed through brokers, the large lenders sought to reclaim margins that had been eroded by lower interest rates, rising operating expenses and heightened competition. Several banks indicated that direct, in-house lending produced stronger returns and deeper customer relationships. They also signalled a renewed push to hire additional frontline bankers as they attempted to curb their dependence on broker-originated home loans.Read more

Country Garden recently stated that it would request shareholder approval for a wide-ranging offshore debt restructuring plan designed to cut its liabilities and stabilise operations following the developer's earlier default. The proposal includes issuing mandatory convertible bonds worth up to USD 13 billion, alongside warrants and new shares, resulting in substantial dilution for existing shareholders. The developer has already secured creditor approval to reduce a large portion of its offshore debt, and it now requires shareholder and regulatory consent to implement the measures. A separate vote on related share and bond issuances is scheduled for an extraordinary general meeting in the coming weeks.Read more

China's housing market recorded its sharpest monthly decline in new home prices in about a year, reflecting ongoing weakness in demand and persistent pressure on the wider property sector. Official figures released earlier this week indicated that prices continued to fall both month-on-month and year-on-year, underscoring the challenges the government faces as it aims to stabilise the market without resorting to large-scale stimulus. Industry analysts pointed to fragile buyer sentiment, oversupply in smaller cities and a subdued resale market as key factors weighing on performance, despite policy support introduced in the past year.Read more

Clipper Realty recorded a marginal rise in revenue earlier this week, supported mainly by stronger rental income from its residential portfolio. Despite this uptick, the company posted a wider net loss compared with the same period in the past year, reflecting the impact of reduced commercial income following the termination of its lease at 250 Livingston Street in New York City. Adjusted FFO also declined, and the firm refrained from issuing forward-looking guidance. Market sentiment remained cautious, with the sole analyst covering the stock maintaining a sell recommendation, contrasting sharply with the broader residential REITs sector.Read more

Madison Pacific Properties recorded a notable rise in net income for the nine-month period ending late September 2025, driven largely by a substantial fair value adjustment on its investment portfolio. The company reported net earnings of C$20.9 million, with C$18.6 million attributed to gains from the revaluation of its properties. With an investment property base valued at C$758 million and high occupancy across both industrial and residential assets, the business continued to demonstrate operational stability. However, the firm refrained from offering any detailed forward-looking guidance during the past week.Read more

British builder Persimmon posted a 15 per cent rise in its forward sales position, reaching GBP 2.79 billion (USD 3.74 billion), driven by more sales outlets and support-measures such as lower deposits and competitive pricing. During the period from July 1 to November 2, the net private sales rate per outlet per week climbed to 0.76 from 0.70 a year earlier. Private forward sales also climbed 15 per cent to GBP 2.09 billion. The firm introduced a second shared-equity product, 'Rezide', alongside its existing New Build Boost scheme. It flagged some market softening since summer amid budget-related uncertainty but remains on track to deliver 2025 profit and home completion targets.Read more

Swedish real-estate group Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB (SBB) has agreed to sell its social-infrastructure portfolio about 740 properties across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland for 32 billion Swedish crowns (roughly USD 3.40 billion) to Oslo-listed Public Property Invest ASA (PPI). SBB expects to receive net cash of more than 11 billion Swedish crowns and plans to use this to redeem bonds and reduce debt. The transaction is expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026, and will make PPI Europe's largest listed social-infrastructure platform.Read more