WASHINGTON, DC—Depending on how you look at the results, the Federal Reserve's release in mid-March of its annual stress test on the leading 19 US banks either shows that safeguards put in place since the economic downturn are working, or that the government is far too stringent in its methodology. The latter claim comes from the four banks—New York City-based Citi and MetLife, Atlanta-based SunTrust and Detroit-based Ally Financial—that were deemed by the Fed to have failed the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review test.

DUBAI—In June 2011, the global credit crisis hit the Middle East hospitality market hard. Many of the world's largest new hotel projects are in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and more than a few had to cut back to skeleton crews or postpone work.

COLUMBUS, OH—Partly shielded from the economic downturn by its smaller size and Midwest location, the city is seeing commercial success both Downtown and in the suburbs thanks to a few corporate benefactors. Cranes and bulldozers are active all over the CBD as Nationwide Realty Investors continues its $1.3 billion in development program, including the recent start of a 51,300-square-foot office building in the $800-million Arena District. NRI, a division of the locally based Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., is also building the $500-million Grandview Yard project just northwest of Downtown.

HONG KONG—Continued uncertainty in Europe and weak US fundamentals have projected flat office growth throughout the two continents, with Asia and South America the only bright spots in 2012.

Roadways, railways and a revitalized Panama Canal. Virtually every city in the US is laboring with an infrastructure woefully behind the times. But efforts are afoot nationally (to the extent that federal dollars can help) to upgrade our tattered ribbons of highways, to create high-speed rail and revitalize our ports to accommodate an anticipated new era of container shipping.

DEERFIELD, IL-To gain $47 million in state tax incentives, the firm has agreed to hire 500 more corporate workers and invest in office renovations throughout Chicago.

DETROIT-The longtime local broker has risen through the CBRE ranks since joining from Grubb & Ellis in 2005.

CHICAGO-The REIT saw a hike in stock price to its highest level since it recovered from bankruptcy almost two years ago