PHILADELPHIA, PA—Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region increased modestly in January, according to firms responding to the Philadelphia Fed's Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The survey's current indicators for general activity and new orders fell from their readings in December, suggesting a slower pace of growth.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ—Prolong Pharmaceuticals LLC, a biopharmaceutical company headed by NJ-trained scientists, is doubling down on its commitment to New Jersey, with the expansion of its South Plainfield manufacturing facility and the addition of new executive and administrative offices at the location. Hear our exclusive audio conversation with company president Glenn Kazo.

NEWARK, NJ—Accelerating urban expansion offers rich investment opportunities, particularly in the areas of urban infrastructure, real estate, an evolving agricultural supply chain, and consumer goods and services, says a white paper from Prudential Investment Management, the $918 billion asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. CEO David Hunt says the firm drew on its global investment expertise to identify areas of investment opportunity in the urban core.

KEANSBURG, NJ AND SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ—NAI James E. Hanson has facilitated a sale and a lease transaction recently. NAI Hanson sold 19-21 Carr Avenue in Keansburg, NJ, to Father and Sons Building and Remodeling, and facilitated a lease for periodicals distributor Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, Inc.'s involving 22,203 square feet at 60 Saddle River Avenue in South Hackensack, New Jersey.

PHILADELPHIA, PA—US commercial real estate markets can expect to see cap rate compression, rental rate growth, and declining vacancy in 2015, with the pressure coming from foreign capital fleeing political and economic turmoil abroad, says Arthur Pasquarella, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Equus Capital Partners, Ltd., one of the panelists featured at ALM's RealShare Philadelphia Conference February 10 at the historic Union League Club.

PARSIPPANY, NJ—New Jersey's office market recorded its best annual year-over-year vacancy rate improvement in 10 years in 2014, according to Transwestern's Fourth-Quarter 2014 Office Market report. Matthew Dolly, research director for Transwestern's New Jersey office, says industries that fill office space are still not getting sufficient job growth to keep the office market moving forward.

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Peter Finley, formerly head of capital markets at Paramount Group, has joined Lowe Enterprises Investors as senior vice president to lead the firm's marketing and business development efforts. Finley will be headquartered in Philadelphia, with national responsibilities, the firm says. He will maintain and expand client and consultant relationships and assist with the development of new investment products and strategies.

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ—The rebirth of the Morristown market through multifamily developments such as Roseland's Metropolitan at 40 Park and The Residences at Vail Mansion, were part of the focus of the “Real Property Roundtable: All Eyes on Multi-Family!” hosted by the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey on January 23 at the Hilton Hotel in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.