CHICAGO—Most recently global real estate head for Gap Inc., David Zoba tells GlobeSt.com that mature retail brands increasingly are looking outside their home countries for growth.

WASHINGTON, DC—Although year-over-year growth for the second quarter slowed compared to Q1, “year-to-date lending is up for every major lender group,” says the Mortgage Bankers Association's Jamie Woodwell.

BERLIN—The owner/developer's co-CEOs, Jerry Speyer and Rob Sepyer, say the deal for Quartier 205 “constitutes our re-engagement with the Berlin real estate market, where we began over 25 years ago.”

LONDON—One of the two Southbank Place office towers is pre-leased to Royal Dutch Shell, which has been a presence in the area since the early 1960s.

NEW YORK CITY—The Federal Open Market Committee's latest statement indicates that it's basing its decision on the timing for interest rate increases largely on the strength of the labor market, writes Cushman & Wakefield's chief economist.

Continuing the tradition <i>Real Estate Forum</i> established in 2013 with a special section spotlighting industry legends, we're once again profiling inductees into the Women of Influence Hall of Fame

NEW YORK CITY—CIT Group CEO John Thain will continue in that capacity; the combined company's board is now larger by two members.

NEW YORK CITY—Iron Hound principal Robert Verrone says the company's relationship with special servicer LNR Partners “enabled us to coordinate this successfully.”