STAMFORD, CT—The <i>Financial Times</i> reported Thursday that the two hoteliers had held preliminary discussions, a few months after Starwood Hotels said it was exploring a possible sale.

NEW YORK CITY—Since nearly one-third of all maturing CMBS is backed by office, it's valid to ask how the sector is faring. Trepp provides some answers.

SANTA BARBARA, CA—While the tech hubs of Portland, OR and San Francisco are leading the way, all 30 metro areas in the latest Yardi Matrix Monthly are seeing strong apartment rent growth.

LONDON—Quintain's business currently is centered on its redevelopment of Wembley Park; chief executive Maxwell James says Lone Star's buyout will accelerate the development program.

CHICAGO—Equity Residential's David J. Neithercut is expecting “another very strong year of operating results and value creation in 2015 and for many years to come.” His counterparts at AvalonBay and UDR share his optimism.

CHICAGO—Post closing, the deal for the Industrial Income Trust portfolio will make Global Logistics Properties the second-largest US industrial operator.

LOS ANGELES—The absorption rate retail has seen over the past year is “phenomenal” in view of “the uneven economic recovery and lingering consumer uncertainty,” according to Lee &amp; Associates' Q2 report.

BIRMINGHAM, AL—The deal for Capella, which will add two million square feet of hospital space to Medical Properties Trust's portfolio, is “simply the next step along our track record of creating strong double-digit growth,” says CEO Aldag.