IRVINE, CA—Ten-X's Peter Muoio attributes the quarterly increases in deal volume across all five commercial real estate sectors to the strengthening US dollar and "the typical fourth-quarter rush among investors."

LOS ANGELES—Commercial as well as residential real estate has become "a pillar of strength" amid economic headwinds, Marcus & Millichap's Hessam Nadji told a Bloomberg TV audience recently.

STAMFORD, CT—The surprise announcement on Thursday afternoon comes after the Chinese insurer had raised its bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts to about $14 billion.

CARROLLTON, TX—"People are hunkering down in the apartment sector," says RealPage's Greg Willett, citing the high rate of lease renewals among apartment dwellers nationwide during February.

OAK BROOK, IL—Following the close of its $2.3-billion merger with a subsidiary of funds managed by DRA Advisors, Inland Real Estate Corp. is now a privately held REIT known as IRC Retail Centers Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO—The Bay Area boasts the sector's fastest growing rents, while London has the priciest among global markets, according to Prologis' inaugural Logistics Rent Index.

SANTA BARBARA, CA—With just one metro area showing negative growth in rents on a trailing three-month basis, Seattle continued leading the way in March, according to Yardi Matrix.

IRVINE, CA—RealtyTrac's Daren Blomquist cites rising home prices and tepid wage growth as dampers on single-family rental returns in many markets; conversely, the firm sees strength in several of them.