A record €668 billion invested worldwide in 2007. - After €350 billion invested on global corporate real estate markets in 2005, then €492 billion in 2006, the growth of investments in this sector continues according to an annual study by the international advisory firm, Cushman & Wakefield, which estimates the value of international tertiary investments in 2007 at €668 billion. It does, however, predict a slowdown for 2008, limiting commitments to €528 billion, i.e. a fall of 21%, a figure that is nonetheless twice as high as that recorded in 2003. The five markets targeted by investors are currently the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and France. The emergent countries, however, notch up the best performances from one year to the next. Thus, China, 9th with €10.3 billion invested in 2007, for the first time enters the top 10 of the most requested markets while Brazil rises to 11th place. In terms of growth, ten of the fifteen most promising markets are emergent countries, the study stresses, noting moreover the special increase of European centres especially Bulgaria (+179%), Ukraine (+146%), Hungary (+139%) and Turkey (+137%). The American continent as a whole has the strongest growth with +86% in Latin America and +39% in North America where investment volumes were €299 billion. Asia also experienced a good year in 2007 thanks to a 17% rise to €103 billion. Acquisitions of assets on mature markets such as Japan and Australia dominate but economic results in China and Korea also attract foreign investors that increased their real estate purchases in Asia to 73% in 2007, bringing them to almost €52 billion. In Europe, progression has been more modest, by way of 5%. Investments amount to €252 billion compared to €223 billion in 2006. Up 29% last year, foreign investments are the dominant force and account for 55% of investment deals. The United Kingdom, which is the leading European market but also the main victim of risky credit, has undergone an 18% fall in its activities while Germany and France have notched up a greater rise with +19% and +17% respectively. Central and Eastern Europe may, for their part, boast of a 20% rise in investment despite a slight decline in Poland and Russia.