Direct investment in commercial real estate in Europe, the Middle East and Africa has reached $130bn in 2010, equating to a 40 per cent rise over 2009, according to research by US-headquartered real estate consultant Jones Lang LaSalle,

Direct investments in the first nine months of 2010 were higher than the same period in 2009. In Europe, investments will reach $40bn by the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, a 35 per cent increase on the previous quarter.