Monday’s Numbers: July 29, 2013

The Architecture Billings Index—a proxy for future construction—declined 1.3 points to 51.6 in June, remaining above the benchmark level of 50, which indicates growth in architects’ billings. Buttressing this indicator is a report noting that month-over-month multifamily starts declined 27 percent in June.

Growth in new construction in the United States remains muted, as both business generally and real estate specifically wait for growth in the economy. Morrow Equipment reported the utilization rate for commercial real estate construction cranes was 50 percent, down from 80 percent in 2008. Global sales of cranes have declined 16 percent from 2008’s level, with 65 percent of new sales in China.

Monday’s Numbers

The Trepp survey for the period ending July 19, 2013, showed average spreads widening 10 basis points, with ten-year U.S. Treasury bonds basically unchanged during the survey period. So far, both investors and sellers seem content to talk about not doing deals at today’s (recently elevated) capitalization rate levels, preferring instead to just wait the market out.

The Cushman & Wakefield Equity, Debt, and Structured Finance Group’s monthly survey of commercial real estate mortgage spreads was updated midweek, showing spreads widening +/-30 basis points over the past 45 days.

Year-to-Date Public Equity Capital Markets

DJIA ⁽¹⁾: +18.73%
S&P 500 ⁽²⁾: +18.61%
NASDAQ ⁽³⁾: +19.66%
Russell 2000 ⁽⁴⁾: +23.45%
Morgan Stanley U.S. REIT ⁽⁵⁾: +8.18%

^{(1) Dow Jones Industrial Average; (2) Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index; (3) NASD Composite Index; (4) Small capitalization segment of U.S. equity universe; (5) Morgan Stanley REIT Index.}