Industry News Property company and industry news with expert analysis from the Financial Times The latest property , property company and industry news with expert analysis from the Financial Times on FT.com St Modwen Properties? profits rise 34% Asset management and planning gains helped the regeneration specialist shrug off the downturn in regional property markets Power to the people... literally Consumers are grouping together to force the Big Six energy providers? hands Beijing office rents outstrip New York Office rents in Beijing have soared over the past two years, making it more expensive to lease prime work space in China?s capital than in New York Too much house price information? Should property indices use a national average? Sale and rent back schemes halted The financial regulator has cracked down on controversial sale and rent back deals that target distressed homeowners Foreign buyers snap up London office space Purchases come as sovereign wealth funds and cash-rich individuals seek stable assets amid the uncertainty in the global financial markets Tech groups take up slack in central London Gaps created by downsizing of financial services sector has created a surge in demand from IT, telecoms and internet start-ups Nationwide reports 0.2% house price dip UK house prices slipped in January according to a closely watched index, building a picture of sluggish house price growth overall Mogul keeping out the squatters Frustrated by corporate life, Joost Van Gestel seized the opportunity to find tenants for owners of vacant property, writes Matthew Steinglass US Reits are drawn to subprime securities Real estate investment trusts are attracted by high yields relative to low borrowing costs, with many aided by rising share prices Greek asset sales behind target Greece will struggle to meet its target for assets sales even by the delayed deadline of 2017, according to the country?s privatisation adviser Nama sells iconic London cinema The Irish body is pushing ahead with the sale of high profile assets in a bid to shed almost ?74bn of toxic property loans British Land signs accord to build HQ for UBS British Land has announced an agreement to develop a 700,000 sq ft building to be the Swiss bank?s European headquarters Fewer cranes add to signs of slowing economy The number of large construction projects in the UK, as measured by the number of tower cranes in operation, has fallen Pfizer enters talks to sell Sandwich R&D site The US pharmaceutical company has agreed to maintain 650 employees on its flagship centre which has been operating since the 1950s Talent show finalist?s businesses probed The business affairs of a former finalist on the television show Britain?s Got Talent are being probed following the collapse of a property investment scheme Prime areas prop up London prices Data show the so-called ?London effect?, whereby residential properties in the capital defy weakness elsewhere, is down to rising prices in a handful of areas Interactive map: London house prices This interactive map shows average London prices by postcode and how these have changed since their 2007 peak and over the past decade California spurns $15bn in mortgage aid Bank of America, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase offered help to the state?s borrowers to settle allegations of mortgage-related misdeeds Tchenguiz to sell 250,000 freeholds for £3bn Portfolio is tied to houses and apartments across the UK, including 15,000 homes in London and its sale is being targeted at sovereign wealth funds