CHICAGO—The acquisition of Ardent Health Services, one of the nation's largest operators of for-profit hospitals, increases the REIT's diversification, says CEO Debra A. Cafaro.

CHICAGO—On Monday's conference call, CEO Debra A. Cafaro cited “compelling” benefits for NOI and FFO from the simultaneous acquisition of Ardent Healthcare and spinoff of the REIT's skilled nursing business.

NEW YORK CITY—Standard & Poor's also says that full-term interest-only loans “have become par for the course in single-borrower deals in recent years.”

NEW YORK CITY—For neighborhood centers and regional malls, improvements in fundamentals haven't begun accelerating yet, but are becoming “more consistent,” says Reis Inc.

As the economic recovery has found firmer footing, for the first time in years all major property sectors are reporting healthy growth and demand

STAMFORD, CT—The activist hedge fund manager, also pursuing proxy battles at Associated Estates and MGM Resorts, objected to measures that MAC took to defend itself against Simon Property Group's takeover bid.

AUSTIN—Ryan Lang's hiring occurs as sovereign wealth funds are showing increasing interest in partnering with public colleges and universities to fund student housing projects.

NEW YORK CITY—Macroeconomic volatility globally leaves the domestic economy, and less directly US commercial real estate, more vulnerable to shocks, say TIAA-CREF's Martha Peyton and Edward F. Pierzak.