Sector Investment 3 Days

Last updated: April 18, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Real Estate Fundraising Slowdown

Overall fundraising volume for real estate slumped 50% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, signaling a sharp return to earth for the sector, although the data masks some underlying strength as a greater percentage of funds managed to hit or exceed their capital targets and reached final close faster than previously seen. This shift in dynamics is largely attributable to the absence of mega-fund managers like Blackstone and Brookfield, whose space in the market is now being filled by smaller, emerging managers achieving quicker close times. Amidst this realignment, CBRE IM created a new role for former Hines executive Paul White to spearhead growth in its Europe Value Partners series, a strategy that marks a renewed focus after not raising a dedicated fund in that mandate since 2018.

Infrastructure Investment & Risk Appetite

The closed-end, unlisted infrastructure market recorded only $26.4 billion in capital raised during Q1, marking the second-lowest quarterly total across the last six years, though managers remain hopeful that closings from several large-cap funds expected later in the year will improve the full-year figures. However, concerns persist regarding geopolitical risk, with I Squared founder Sadek Wahba cautioning that investors may be "sleepwalking" on the potential ramifications of the ongoing Iran conflict, which influences his cautious stance even amidst the fervor surrounding AI infrastructure development. In a move to bolster market intelligence, Infrastructure Investor announced its acquisition of Scientific Infra & Private Assets (SIPA), aiming to deepen quantitative research capabilities across private equity and infrastructure coverage.