LONDON-New York City's Fifth Avenue is the world's most expensive shopping street, according to new research by Cushman & Wakefield, Healey & Baker. But in Europe it is the Champs Elysées in Paris that tops the rankings.

LONDON-Homebuilder Westbury has reported a pickup in the housing market in autumn. The announcement is at odds with a raft of recent surveys that have identified a slowing market and made investors wary of backing the sector.

LONDON-French bank BNP Paribas unveils that it has agreed to buy the remaining 50% stake in ATIS Real International SAS from French real estate company Vendome Rome. Analysts have pegged the deal at euro 250 million ($316 million).

LONDON-Grainger Trust, Britain's largest public-housing investor, has bought a portfolio of apartments for euro 14.7 million ($18.6 million) but expects to double that value when it acquires vacant possession.

LONDON-British Land has unveiled its sale of the Swiss Centre in Leicester Square to Irish contractors McAleer and Rushe Group. The going price is euro 68 million ($85 million). The council has said it would be willing to see the property redeveloped with a mix of uses.

LONDON-A consortium comprising Westfield, Multiplex Group and the Reuben brothers are set to buy Chelsfield for euro 845.6 million ($1 billion). The offer document published last night revealed the bidders have already secured acceptances from shareholders with a combined 87% stake in Chelsfield.<p>

LONDON-The American owner of Canary Wharf has ventured west of the Docklands estate and snapped up a 25.5% stake in quoted property company, Great Portland Estates (GPE). The euro 178.43-million ($221.11-million) acquisition gives Morgan Stanley an interest in the central London market and has fueled speculation that the bank plans to launch a full bid for GPE.

LONDON-Unite Group has sold four housing blocks to Morley Fund Management for more than euro 71.9 million ($89 million), above the initial asking price. The strong investor interest in the portfolio is seen as reinforcing the case for student accommodation being an asset class on its own.