Sweden regained its position as the most liquid European commercial property market in 2012 with turnover at 9% of its invested stock, according to property adviser DTZ.
Sweden regained its position as the most liquid European commercial property market in 2012 with turnover at 9% of its invested stock, according to property adviser DTZ.
Norway (8%) and the UK (6%) were ranked as the second and third most liquid markets in Europe in 2012 respectively. They were followed by Poland (6%) and Germany (5%).
Despite having the second-largest invested stock in Europe, France was only ranked as the 10th most liquid market.
Liquidity is measured by dividing a country’s invested stock by investment volumes in any particular year. The invested stock represents the total value of investment-grade commercial property held by different investment groups.
Nigel Almond, head of strategy research at DTZ, commented: 'Sweden’s position at the top may come as a surprise given its position as the eighth-largest investment market in Europe at €10 6 bn, around a sixth of the size of the UK.'
But he added that commercial real estate investment activity in Sweden has rebounded strongly since the onset of the global financial crisis, reaching close to €10 bn in 2012. 'The market, along with the wider Nordic region, is perceived as a relative safe haven during the recent crisis. The banking sector also avoided many of the worst excesses of the boom period, supporting a much stronger recovery. It is therefore no surprise to see two Nordic markets taking the top two places.'
