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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