New Bric funds may attract British investors

The emerging property markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China have all attracted enormous attention in recent years because of extraordinary levels of capital appreciation.

However investing in these markets has so far been very tricky for most UK investors. That may however be set to change with the news that at least three fund management groups are set to launch Bric funds which could be opened up to UK investors.

Allianz Global Investors, US group Franklin Templeton and HSBC are all assessing investor appetite for such a product.

Savills to launch Indian property fund

Savills plans to launch an estimated £200 million, Indian property fund, next year. It is understood that the fund, which will be targeted at professional UK and international investors, will invest in commercial property in major cities and conurbations across India's emerging property market.

Savills' chief executive Aubrey Adams reports that the fund would look at sale and leaseback deals and agreements to provide advance funding to build new developments. Rules restricting foreign direct investment into India's property market were softened back in February.