Zurich saw the greatest rise in high-end residential rents in Europe during 2012, with growth of 7.9%, according to the latest edition of Knight Frank’s Prime Global Rental Index, which compares the performance of high-end lettings markets across key global cities.

The index rose by 1.6% in the final quarter of 2012 and by 5.1% over the course of the year, as a tight mortgage market, with limited supply in established markets and rising property prices in emerging ones, forced many would-be purchasers into rented accommodation. It now stands 20% above its post-financial crisis low in the second quarter of 2009.

Nairobi saw the largest increase in prime rents, which rose by 17.9%, and Dubai the second-largest, at 14.3%. Beijing, at 8.5%, was next.

Since the second quarter of 2009, Hong Kong has seen the highest increase in prime rents (up 42.2%) and Moscow the lowest (up 3.3%).

UK house prices were up £6,700 in the past year, but, without London, they would be just £1,117 higher, according to the latest research from LSL Property Services/ Acadametrics.

They increased by an average of £532 in March, and have only fallen once in the past 16 months.

Global commercial real-estate investment volumes reached US$94 billion in the first quarter of 2013 – 8% higher than in the same quarter of 2012 – according to preliminary figures from new research. Not surprisingly, Asia Pacific was a major location for investment.

The research, by international property services company Jones Lang LaSalle, covers capital markets in 60 countries. Its findings suggest that commercial property continues to be an attractive acquisition for investors around the world.

All regions show increases, with Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa all between 7% and 8% higher than a year ago.

Asia Pacific volumes were driven higher by a 30% increase in Japan year on year, and stronger investment volumes in Singapore and Hong Kong. Overall, the region was 8% up on Quarter 1 2012.

Improving confidence in the global economic recovery and a continued demand for direct real-estate exposure, Jones Lang LaSalle believes, are continuing to push volumes higher, with Germany, Japan, and the US all finishing the quarter strong.

As a result of the improved results in Quarter 1, Jones Lang LaSalle is maintaining its forecast for 2013 at between US$450 and 500 billion, with further growth in quarterly volumes as the year progresses.

Last year, China Southern Airlines and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) reached an agreement that allowed frequent Chinese flyers the right to gain a visitor’s visa without having to provide evidence, such as proof of employment, or proving they have the sufficient funds to support themselves during their visit.

Last year, China Southern Airlines and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) reached an agreement that allowed frequent Chinese flyers the right to gain a visitor’s visa without having to provide evidence, such as proof of employment, or proving they have the sufficient funds to support themselves during their visit.

Last year, China Southern Airlines and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) reached an agreement that allowed frequent Chinese flyers the right to gain a visitor’s visa without having to provide evidence, such as proof of employment, or proving they have the sufficient funds to support themselves during their visit.

A Dutch initiative aimed to help skilled migrants settle easier into life in Amsterdam has been labelled a ‘success’.

Set up in the summer of 2008, the Expatcenter Amsterdam has since helped more than 21,000 expats to settle in the region in the past four and a half years, providing assistance with all the paperwork and formalities that new highly skilled migrants may face when arriving in the Netherlands.

A Dutch initiative aimed to help skilled migrants settle easier into life in Amsterdam has been labelled a ‘success’.

Set up in the summer of 2008, the Expatcenter Amsterdam has since helped more than 21,000 expats to settle in the region in the past four and a half years, providing assistance with all the paperwork and formalities that new highly skilled migrants may face when arriving in the Netherlands.

A Dutch initiative aimed to help skilled migrants settle easier into life in Amsterdam has been labelled a ‘success’.

Set up in the summer of 2008, the Expatcenter Amsterdam has since helped more than 21,000 expats to settle in the region in the past four and a half years, providing assistance with all the paperwork and formalities that new highly skilled migrants may face when arriving in the Netherlands.

Rising confidence in Dubai's residential property market has helped boost prices of low-end villas by 20% over the past six months in the emirate, according to a new report by property investment company Cluttons.

In its first quarter report, the Cluttons report revealed that prices are also rising at the higher end of the emirate’s residential market – just not as fast.