BOSTON-The six-property portfolio in Boston's Fort Point submarket was originally constructed for manufacturing and warehouse uses.

WASHINGTON, DC—The FDIC has published the final rules for the stress testing required by the Dodd-Frank Act. For institutions with assets greater than $50 billion, the law goes into force this year. Institutions with assets between $10 billion and $50 billion can wait until October 2013. The FDIC board also approved a final rule that amends the definitions used to identify concentrations in higher-risk assets to better reflect the risk posed to institutions and the FDIC.

NEW YORK CITY—The job cuts announced this past summer by the likes of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup made headlines, but Forbes reported more recently that we haven't seen the worst yet. New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli also predicts a decline in financial services employment this year, which Fitch Ratings says could put pressure on office REITs with a concentration of tenants in the sector.

BEIJING—Locally based Harvest Fund Management, China's second largest fund manager at about $37 billion in assets under management, is launching a JV with Grosvenor Fund Management. The newly launched Harvest Real Estate Investments is intended to help domestic and international investors locate real estate opportunities across the major sectors in Greater China.

When you're operating in the biggest CRE market in the US, it takes a lot to stand out. Real estate acumen, farsighted vision and indefatigable energy are traits shared in common by the key owners and developers in New York City real estate. They also have an appetite for making civic-minded activity a priority. Here, Real Estate Forum takes a look at some icons who have shaped the landscape.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—It's official. The commercial real estate lending market has returned to health, or at least is on the cusp of doing so, according to two separate reports, one by SNL Financial, the other by Chandan Economics. Both note that loan delinquencies are reaching post-crisis lows and that lending is increasing at a healthy clip.

In uncertain times, it's human nature—not to mention sound business practice—to rely on proven methods. The stability and predictable cash flow of netleased properties certainly qualify as tried and true; however, experts in the sector tell Real Estate Forum that these aren't the only factors that have created a mushrooming of investor interest.

Commercial real estate has long been considered one of the last industries where the glass ceiling hasn't been breached. But if the women on the next several pages are any indication, the "Old Boys' Club" may no longer be an apt description for the business. Women entered the sector in droves over the past few decades, and many have risen to the C-suite and are among the top decision-makers at their firms. As such, the editors of REAL ESTATE FORUM had a tough time selecting this year's Women of Influence. We weeded through some 200 worthy nominations to come up with 45 exectives whose accomplishments were particularly impressive. With an increasing number of women currently paying their dues and rising to management-level positions—not to mention mentoring a younger generation of female professionals—it seems like we'll have our work cut out for us in the years to come.