Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2026-01-03

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 3.72 (as of 2025-12-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.15 (as of 2025-12-31)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2026-01-02
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• The City’s Most Impressive Skylights — New York's skylights blend functionality and artistry, making them highly desirable design elements.
• $2 Million Homes in London — Explore $2 million homes in London, featuring unique lofts and historic properties.
• Los Angeles Fridge Law Ends Baffling Rite of Passage for Renters — Los Angeles landlords are now required to supply tenants with functioning refrigerators.

🇪🇺 Europe

• Search under way for two people missing off Withernsea coast — A search is ongoing for two missing individuals off Withernsea, following the confirmation of a man's death amid severe weather conditions.
• Jewish groups warned ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending match could be seen as ‘antisemitic’ — Jewish groups have expressed concerns that banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match could be perceived as antisemitic.
• Teenage girl educated in Britain among the missing after Crans-Montana fire — Charlotte Niddam, a 15-year-old educated in Britain, is among those missing after a fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.

🌏 Asia

• FTSE 100 hits 10,000 mark for first time — The FTSE 100 reached the 10,000 milestone on the first trading day of the year.
• Woman felt 'dehumanised' after Musk's Grok AI used to digitally remove her clothes — A woman expressed feeling 'dehumanised' after Musk's Grok AI digitally undressed her without consent.
• China's BYD overtakes Tesla as world's top EV seller — BYD has surpassed Tesla to become the world's leading electric vehicle seller for the first time.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Positioning Idea:** Invest in REITs focused on urban residential properties to capitalize on rising demand for unique living spaces in cities like New York and London.
• **Risk Note:** Urban market fluctuations and regulatory changes may impact returns.
• **Positioning Idea:** Consider ETFs targeting luxury real estate markets to benefit from high-value property trends in cities with historic appeal, like London.

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Positioning Idea**: Consider investing in European REITs focused on disaster recovery and emergency services.
• **Risk Note**: Economic downturns may impact funding for recovery efforts.
• **Positioning Idea**: Explore ETFs focused on social impact and community resilience, addressing concerns around social issues and inclusivity.

🌏 Asia

• **Position in UK Equities ETFs**: Leverage the FTSE 100 milestone by investing in UK-focused ETFs. *Risk: Economic volatility may impact performance.*
• **Explore AI Ethics-focused REITs**: Consider REITs that prioritize ethical tech developments, addressing concerns like those raised by Grok AI. *Risk: Regulatory changes could affect sector growth.*
• **Invest in EV-related ETFs**: Capitalize on BYD's rise in the EV market by investing in diversified EV sector ETFs. *Risk: Market competition and supply chain issues may pose challenges.*

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.