Investors expect to see the first property lease contracts based on blockchain to emerge by 2022. The finding comes from BrickVest, the commercial real estate investment platform, which recently asked investors for their views on the disruptive technology. On average, respondents said that it would come into use within four years’ time, but 25 percent of investors also predict that blockchain will be behind some leases as early as 2020.

An analysis of more than 450,000 seed crowdfunding campaigns across the globe showed women-led campaigns reached their funding target more often than male-led campaigns. In fact, campaigns led by women across the world in 2015 and 2016 were 32 percent more successful than those led by men across a wide range of sectors, geography and cultures. Furthermore, many female-led projects achieve a greater average pledge amount than male-led projects: On average, each individual backer contributes $87 to women and $83 to men.

In the wake of news that Toys “R” Us would be closing its doors for good, observers have been quick to point fingers attributing blame. Jim Cramer identified Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart as the chief culprits, while U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, in a USA Today op-ed, pinned the bankruptcy on “greedy Wall Street profiteers.” While such a characterization overlooks the fact Toys “R” Us was struggling prior to its 2005 buyout, it also ignores the fact it is the same “profiteers” — investors in private capital — who will reimagine how the retail space left vacant by the bankruptcy can be reinvented to accommodate the evolving consumer.

The Trump administration came into office with the promise of breaking down regulatory walls, which was music to the ears of the alternatives industry. While the administration has succeeded to some extent — such as by stopping the fiduciary rule from being implemented — changing published rules takes time, concerted effort and buy-in from leadership at the relevant agencies.

Retail transaction volumes were $12.8 billion in the first four months of 2018, according to JLL, reflecting a 46 percent decline in investment in retail assets during the first part of the year. JLL attributed the drop to investor caution and a perception retail returns are not commensurate with current valuations.

For the sheer simplicity they bring to 401(k) investment decisions, retirement experts have been big fans of target-date funds for years. Now, their popularity is soaring with the people who really count: employees.

Location, location, location. For years, this phrase has been repeated as the cardinal rule of real estate. Location is immutable, something that cannot be changed. Developers can improve a vacant lot by building a new asset and skilled operators can increase the quality and finish of construction, but they cannot change the physical location.

We still think about infrastructure as being a young asset class — and in comparison to others, it still is. But we are finally reaching the point where we can look at several vintage periods and analyze how those funds performed during a variety of economic conditions. The 2005–2007 vintage is a perfect one to start with. Not many funds can claim to have been launched into one of the highest-flying of high-flying economic climates, only to quickly be in the midst of a great financial crisis. How these funds survived the crisis, both in relation to promised performance and in relation to other asset classes, has helped funds today position themselves for future downturns.

In a new report, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions emphasizes that states are taking the lead in developing policies to preserve existing nuclear power. Considering the urgency and nuclear plants’ role in helping us avoid carbon dioxide emissions, this is a welcome development. To meet mid- century climate goals, power-sector emission reductions must include substantial growth in renewables and maintenance of zero-emission nuclear generation.

For decades, inflation and interest rates in the United States and globally have been in retreat, hitting fresh nadirs in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent easing by major central banks. The long-term falling interest and inflation rates rewarded stock and bond buyers, who found debt and equity issues worth more as rates fell in a very broad long-run bull market. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” as they say.

As a child, Mandell Crawley envisioned himself a teacher standing at the front of a classroom, probably schooling his pupils in history, and perhaps offering guidance to at-risk kids. Initially, he thought in terms of working at the elementary school level, but as the idea incubated his thoughts gravitated toward teaching high school students or even young men and women at an institution of higher learning.