French commercial property investment to climb 6pc in 2014

Commercial property investment in France is forecast to climb at least 6 per cent in 2014, according to Cushman & Wakefield Inc.

Speaking at a press conference attended by Bloomberg, the broker predicted that low yields on government debt will fuel a search for alternative investments, with spending on offices, shops and warehouses to climb to more than €16 billion euros.

Investment in 2012 totalled €15.1 billion, below the 10-year average, while office leasing rates have slumped. But "opportunistic funds" and "long-term French institutional investors" are still in the market, added Cushman chairman Olivier Gerard.