DALLAS-The Federal Reserve Bank says Texas possibly is in a recession. Grubb & Ellis reports the highest negative absorption in a decade. Still, there are slight signs that the worst could be over.

HACKENSACK, NJ-The 30-year industry vet, Thomas W. Ryan, will take the title of senior vice president of the brokerage and management firm.

JOHANNESBURG-Catalyst Holdings has launched a new South African property fund which will specialise in 'bare dominium' properties. These highly reversionary assets carry the prospect of strong capital growth.

ORLANDO-Occupancy among the area's 132,000 units fell to 92% from 93.2% in 2000, a new study by the Orlando office of CB Richard Ellis Inc. shows. Construction slowed to 6,800 new units compared to 13,900 units delivered in 2000.