Retail market fundamentals have shown signs of contraction since the second half of 2007 with consumer confidence declining notably in Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, the UK and Sweden, according to ING's European Retail View research report released at the Mapic retail property fair in Cannes on Thursday. The Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries have been only somewhat affected by the economic slowdown.
As Ares completed a €325 mln French logistics acquisition from Blackstone, another French portfolio came onto the market.
