Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2026-02-10

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 3.64 (as of 2026-01-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.11 (as of 2026-02-05)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2026-02-09
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• A Designer Moves Upstairs — and Starts Over — Kyle O’Donnell renovated his new Greenwich Village apartment with bespoke details after moving to a sunnier unit.
• A Return to New York Was a Much-Delayed Dream — Daira Jackson returned to New York City nearly 40 years later with her family, settling in a new Inwood building.
• $2.5 Million Homes in California — This week's $2.5 million California homes feature a ranch in San Rafael, a Rudolph Schindler design, and a waterfront property in Lake Arrowhead.

🇪🇺 Europe

• Miliband pledges up to £1bn for community green energy schemes — The UK government plans to invest up to £1bn in community-owned green energy schemes to enhance local control over renewable power generation.
• Starmer tells Labour MPs he is ‘not prepared to walk away’ after call for him to resign – as it happened — Keir Starmer reassures Labour MPs he will not resign amid pressure following the Mandelson scandal and calls from Anas Sarwar.
• Keir Starmer says he is ‘not prepared to walk away’ after call for resignation — Starmer faces intense scrutiny but remains committed to his leadership despite calls for his resignation from within the party.

🌏 Asia

• Instagram and YouTube owners built 'addiction machines', trial hears — Instagram and YouTube's parent companies face legal challenges over allegations of creating addictive social media platforms.
• Businesses face extinction unless they protect nature, major report warns — A major report warns that businesses must prioritize environmental protection to avoid extinction.
• Make-up brand Barry M bought by rival Warpaint — Warpaint acquires Barry M, marking a significant shift in the UK's family-owned cosmetics landscape.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Positioning Idea:** Invest in urban residential REITs focusing on high-demand neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and Inwood.
• **Risk Note:** Economic downturns may impact rental demand.
• **Positioning Idea:** Consider ETFs targeting luxury and waterfront properties in California, capitalizing on high-value markets.

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Positioning Idea:** Invest in renewable energy-focused ETFs to capitalize on the UK’s push for community-owned green energy.
• **Risk Note:** Regulatory changes could impact investment returns.
• **Positioning Idea:** Consider REITs with exposure to community infrastructure projects, benefiting from government investments in local energy schemes.

🌏 Asia

• **Positioning Idea**: Invest in ESG-focused REITs to capitalize on the growing demand for environmentally responsible real estate.
• **Risk Note**: Regulatory changes may impact profitability.
• **Positioning Idea**: Consider ETFs in the tech sector with a focus on digital wellness solutions as social media scrutiny increases.

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.