Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2026-01-06

🌍 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 2026-01-05
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• The City’s Most Impressive Skylights — New York's skylights blend functionality with artistic design, making them highly desirable features.
• $875,000 Homes in California — This week's California homes for $875,000 include diverse styles from a cottage to a bungalow.
• Can Your Landlord Charge Extra for Building Amenities? — Landlords can charge for specific amenities in rent-stabilized buildings, but not arbitrarily.

🇪🇺 Europe

• MPs across UK parties criticise ministers over cautious stance on Venezuela attack — UK MPs criticize ministers for not condemning Trump's actions in Venezuela amid concerns over legality.
• Grok AI still being used to digitally undress women and children despite suspension pledge — Despite promises, degrading images generated by Grok AI continue to circulate on Elon Musk's platform.
• Palestine’s ambassador to UK hails embassy as ‘proof our identity cannot be denied’ — Palestine's ambassador to the UK calls the new embassy in London a historic affirmation of Palestinian identity.

🌏 Asia

• Claire's and The Original Factory Shop to enter administration — Claire's and The Original Factory Shop face administration due to disappointing Christmas sales, leaving them vulnerable.
• Ofcom asks X about reports its Grok AI makes sexualised images of children — Ofcom investigates X over Grok AI's potential to create sexualised images, urging users against illegal content generation.
• US oil companies gain after seizure of Venezuela's Maduro — US oil companies see gains following the seizure of Venezuela's Maduro, raising hopes for accessing the nation's oil resources.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Positioning Idea**: Invest in REITs focused on urban properties with unique architectural features to capitalize on rising demand for aesthetic living spaces.
• **Risk Note**: Market fluctuations may impact property values.
• **Positioning Idea**: Consider ETFs that target California real estate markets, emphasizing diverse home styles to capture varied buyer preferences.

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Positioning Idea**: Consider investing in UK-focused REITs to capitalize on potential political stability as local governance addresses international criticisms.
• **Risk Note**: Political tensions may impact market sentiment.
• **Positioning Idea**: Explore ESG-focused ETFs to align with growing global awareness of ethical governance and social responsibility amid geopolitical controversies.

🌏 Asia

• **Positioning Idea:** Consider investing in retail-focused REITs that emphasize experiential shopping to mitigate risks from traditional retailers facing administration.
• **Risk Note:** Economic downturns may further impact retail foot traffic.
• **Positioning Idea:** Explore ETFs focused on energy sectors, particularly those with exposure to US oil companies benefiting from geopolitical shifts in Venezuela.

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.