The Middle East is weak. Europe, Hong Kong, Macau and Canada continue to experience strong price rises. But China, Russia, Japan, and most of the Middle East are experiencing either house price falls - or a sharp deceleration of house price rises

Private investors accounted for a quarter, or $153bn (£100m), of all commercial property deals in 2014.

Saxo Bank's 10 Outrageous Predictions for 2015.

UAE and Japan outperform, while Russia and Brazil falter

Ever since the global financial crisis of 2008 the world's advanced economies, that led the way into the crisis, have struggled to get back to their pre-crisis performances.

Softbank, Japan's third largest mobile carrier, plans to build an experimental solar power plant on the nation's northern island of Hokkaido this year, kicking off a renewable energy project prompted by the country's nuclear crisis

Line capacity has not been the problem

Local and international interest is growing in the possibility of making South Africa the first African country to build a synchrotron, it emerged this week.

SA's trade with Africa, particularly exports, has surged dramatically in the post-isolation years, with average annual export growth greater than with traditional trading partners.

THE property syndication industry has been brought to a standstill largely as a result of a lack of liquidity, says Mike Flax, MD of Spearhead Property Holdings.