Cushman & Wakefield, Technopak in retail tie-up

Cushman & Wakefield, the retail real estate services provider, and Technopak, the management consulting firm in retail, have entered into a strategic alliance to establish an integrated platform of end-to-end retail services. The partnership is expected to enhance Cushman & Wakefield’s capabilities for its clients in the retail industry by providing access to Technopak’s retail strategy and consulting services, while enabling Technopak’s clients to access Cushman & Wakefield’s global platform of real estate market intelligence, management expertise and a broad range of real estate services.

The alliance would have over 500 dedicated talented professionals having diversified skill base in the retail industry with geographic reach across 100 cities in the country.

Right time to buy properties

I met few developers in Bangalore yesterday. With inflation cooling off to 5.9% last week, India may see interest rates in the range of 7-8% in the next 6 months. This should be music to ears of both buyers and developers. Moreover, the persistent decrease in the general price level of commodities especially cements is likely to bring down the cost of construction. With real estate developers expected to further cut prices over the next three months, experts feel that this is the best time to let their indecisiveness work to buyers advantage.

RBI cuts rates again

The apex bank has cut CRR by 50 basis points to five per cent, short-term lending (repo) rate by 100 basis points to 5.5 per cent with immediate effect and short-term borrowing (reverse repo) rate by similar percentage points at 4 percent. The cut in CRR would lead to infusion of Rs 20,000 crore into the system over and above Rs 3,00,000 crore (Rs 3000 billion) injected since October 2008.

Current rates now are:
CRR 5%
Repo Rate 5.5%
Reverse Repo Rate 4%