Global Real Estate & Economy Brief — 2026-01-09

🌍 At a Glance

• US Fed Funds Rate: 3.72 (as of 2025-12-01)
• US 30Y Mortgage: 6.16 (as of 2026-01-08)
• ECB Policy Rate: 2.0 [FRED:ECBDFR] as of 2026-01-08
• BoE Bank Rate: 3.75 (as of 2025-12-18)

🇺🇸 United States

• How One Death Underscores the Suicide Risk for Construction Workers — TJ Kimball's death highlights the alarming suicide risk faced by construction workers in a high-stress environment.
• Welcome to the Era of 65-Year-Old Roommates — Increasingly, older adults are renting out rooms to supplement their income amid rising living costs.
• New Incentives and Rules Prompt Homeowners to Upgrade Fire-Prone Homes — New incentives and regulations aim to encourage homeowners to enhance fire safety in wildfire-prone areas.

🇪🇺 Europe

• Man jailed in New York for hoax bomb threats to UK hospitals and venues — David Hart, 22, was sentenced to one year in prison for making hoax bomb threats targeting UK institutions from New York.
• Cambridge college urged to drop ‘immoral’ private school recruitment drive — Trinity Hall at Cambridge faces backlash for its controversial recruitment policy favoring elite private school students, deemed immoral by critics.
• Palestine Action activist compared to suffragettes in court — Activist Charlotte Head, accused of breaking into an Israeli defense firm, is compared to suffragettes by her barrister during her trial.

🌏 Asia

• Government to water down business rate rise for pubs — The government plans to revise proposed business rate increases for pubs amid industry concerns.
• Weight loss jabs affecting Greggs, boss says — Greggs' CEO attributes healthier menu changes to the impact of weight loss injections on consumer behavior.
• Tesco and M&S report strong Christmas food sales — Tesco and M&S report robust Christmas food sales, though M&S experienced declines in clothing and homeware sales.

🎯 GPT Strategy

🇺🇸 United States

• **Positioning Idea:** Invest in healthcare REITs focused on senior living facilities to capitalize on the growing trend of older adults seeking rental income.
• **Risk Note:** Market fluctuations in real estate demand could impact occupancy rates.
• **Positioning Idea:** Consider ETFs focused on construction and building materials to hedge against rising safety regulations and increased demand for safer construction practices.

🇪🇺 Europe

• **Positioning Idea**: Consider investing in UK-focused REITs to capitalize on potential demand for secure, high-quality properties amid rising social tensions.
• **Risk Note**: Monitor regulatory changes and public sentiment that could impact property values.
• **Positioning Idea**: Explore ETFs focused on education and training sectors, as elite recruitment controversies may drive demand for alternative educational solutions.

🌏 Asia

• **Positioning Idea:** Consider investing in UK-focused REITs with exposure to retail and leisure sectors, as government support for pubs may stabilize demand.
• **Risk Note:** Monitor potential regulatory changes and economic shifts affecting consumer spending.
• **Positioning Idea:** Explore ETFs focused on consumer staples, as robust food sales from Tesco and M&S indicate resilience in essential goods amid changing consumer habits.

Not financial advice. Educational insights only.