Sector Investment 3 Days

Last updated: April 18, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Real Estate Capital Raising Shifts

The market for real estate fundraising saw fundraising volume fall 50% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, although the data reveals underlying structural shifts toward efficiency, with more funds achieving or surpassing their targets faster than before. This change is largely attributable to the absence of heavyweights like Blackstone and Brookfield from the active market, creating space for smaller, emerging managers who are closing deals in shorter timeframes. Capitalizing on a renewed focus on specific strategies, CBRE Investment Management created a new role for former Hines executive Paul White to drive growth in its European value-add segment, aiming to raise capital for its Europe Value Partners series for the first time since 2018.

Infrastructure & Geopolitical Risks

Market participants in infrastructure investing are cautioned that they may be underestimating geopolitical risks stemming from the Iran conflict, according to I Squared founder Sadek Wahba, who also expressed reservation about the current speed of the artificial intelligence infrastructure boom. Wahba argued that while infrastructure generally shows resilience, current pricing does not adequately reflect potential supply chain disruptions or regional instability, suggesting investors are sleepwalking into potential volatility.