Mars Bars are made by US company Mars, Incorporated.

The manufacturer also owns several other chocolate brands including Celebrations chocolate tubs, Galaxy, Hotel Chocolat, M&Ms and Maltesers.

It also owns non-chocolate brands including Dreamies, Hubba Bubba, Pedigree and Whiskas.

The company was founded in 1883 by Frank C Mars, from Minnesota, with his mother Elva teaching him how to hand-dip chocolate.

Mars Bars were first made by hand in Slough, Berkshire in 1932 and are still made in the town.

A Mars spokesperson said: “Over the last 35 years, we have made a number of updates to our bar sizes and pack formats to reflect consumer demand, alongside considering wider external factors such as manufacturing costs and the price of cocoa.”

Meghan Markle is looking to resolve a brewing public dispute with lifestyle icon Martha Stewart directly and privately rather than let it escalate further, according to people familiar with the situation cited in recent celebrity media reports.

The disagreement traces back to a wide-ranging interview Stewart gave to PEOPLE magazine, published around her 85th birthday, in which she recounted attending a dinner party in California where Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was also a guest. Describing the encounter, Stewart said the two exchanged only a few words but that she understood Meghan “had just gotten back from the palace” and had been discussing the trip with others at the gathering.

The comment drew immediate attention given the timing. Meghan, Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, had recently traveled to the United Kingdom for a family visit with King Charles III at Highgrove House, his private residence in western England, marking the Sussexes’ first UK family visit together since 2022. Buckingham Palace had described the reunion as strictly private at the time and said no further details would be released, making Stewart’s account of Meghan discussing the visit at a social gathering notable to royal watchers.

That account was quickly disputed, however, by the person who hosted the California dinner. Speaking to PEOPLE, the unnamed host pushed back directly on Stewart’s version of events, saying they had sat next to Meghan throughout the dinner and that the characterization of what happened was simply untrue. According to the host, Meghan did not go into detail about the European trip and instead only remarked in passing that her family had a great time, a far more limited account than the impression left by Stewart’s original remarks.

Sources close to Meghan echoed that pushback in subsequent reporting, with one insider telling PEOPLE that Stewart appeared to be “confused” about what had actually been said at the dinner. Despite the dispute, another source close to Meghan reportedly stressed that she remains a fan of Stewart’s despite the friction created by the interview.

For her part, Stewart has shown no indication of backing away from her original account. According to the celebrity outlet Naughty But Nice, a source close to Stewart indicated she has no plans to retract or revise her comments and continues to stand by her recollection of the conversation.

That has reportedly left Meghan weighing how best to handle the disagreement without letting it spiral into a larger public controversy. According to an insider cited by Naughty But Nice, Meghan would rather talk to Stewart directly than let this become a bigger thing, with the source adding that Meghan wants to clear the air and does not want the disagreement to linger publicly.

The dispute follows other recent comments from Stewart about Meghan that have drawn attention in entertainment media. In the same PEOPLE interview, Stewart also weighed in on Meghan’s now-canceled Netflix lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan,” suggesting the transition from actress to member of the royal family to television lifestyle host didn’t naturally follow. That remark came after separate comments Stewart made in a 2025 interview with Yahoo News Australia, in which she said she did not know Meghan well and hoped she “knows what she’s talking about” when it comes to authenticity in her lifestyle brand.

Some reports have suggested the comments landed particularly hard given the contrast in how Stewart discussed Meghan compared with how she has spoken about other celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, whom Stewart has praised in prior interviews. According to one source, the shift in tone between Stewart’s comments about Paltrow and her comments about Meghan felt calculated and struck a nerve that Meghan has had difficulty shaking since the interview’s publication.

Meghan and Stewart are not strangers to each other’s broader social and professional circles. According to PEOPLE’s reporting, Stewart met King Charles herself in April, when both attended the King’s Trust Global Gala in New York City, illustrating the overlapping social spheres the two women occasionally share despite their reported tension.

Coverage of the situation has also drawn comparisons to how Meghan has handled similar celebrity-related speculation in the past. In an earlier instance, actress Gwyneth Paltrow addressed rumors involving Meghan in a lighthearted moment captured on social media, with Meghan, who was reportedly seated nearby at the time, appearing unbothered and later sharing the clip herself. Commentary on the current situation has suggested Meghan may be hoping for a similarly low-key resolution with Stewart, though unlike the Paltrow episode, Stewart has so far continued to stand firmly behind her original account rather than walking it back.

As of now, neither Meghan nor Stewart has issued any public statement directly addressing the dispute, and the situation remains characterized largely through anonymous sourcing in celebrity media reports rather than on-the-record comments from either party. Whether the two women speak privately, as sources suggest Meghan hopes to do, remains unconfirmed, leaving open the question of how, or whether, the disagreement will ultimately be resolved

SEOUL — South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index climbed further Tuesday, extending a rebound from last month’s steep selloff as strong gains in Samsung Electronics and other chipmakers lifted the broader market.

The Kospi rose 0.73%, or 45.87 points, to close at 6,345.53, according to trading data. The index opened at 6,240.06, touched an intraday high of 6,405.81 and dipped to a low of 6,213.78 before settling higher for the session. Trading unfolded in a quieter regional backdrop, with Japanese markets closed Tuesday for the Mountain Day public holiday.

Samsung Electronics led the advance, with shares climbing 4.13%, while SK Hynix also edged higher as investors continued rewarding the country’s dominant memory chip producers. The gains extended a broader rebound in Korean chip stocks, which have remained a central focus for investors throughout 2026 amid strong global demand for memory chips tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure spending.

SK Hynix disclosed progress on its next-generation DRAM research and development efforts, saying it had integrated extreme ultraviolet lithography upgrades and new materials into its production process following the company’s adoption of High-NA EUV equipment, a more advanced lithography technology used to manufacture smaller, more powerful memory chips. The announcement added to investor optimism around the company’s ability to maintain its competitive position in the global memory chip market.

Separately, the South Korean government said it plans to legislate so-called “super special zones” within the next year to support large-scale industrial projects, including semiconductor clusters, a move aimed at bolstering the country’s competitive standing in the global chip supply chain. The announcement was seen as part of a broader push by Seoul to support the domestic semiconductor industry amid intensifying global competition for chip manufacturing investment.

Tuesday’s gains build on a recovery that has taken hold in recent sessions following a punishing stretch for Korean equities last month. The Kospi suffered a roughly 22% wipeout in July, its worst monthly performance since 2008, driven in part by a sharp unwind of leveraged trading positions tied to major chipmakers. That selloff followed an extraordinary run earlier in the year, during which the index doubled in value over just a few months, climbing from around 5,000 to more than 9,000 points at its peak in June, a rally driven almost entirely by explosive gains in memory chip heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

Market analysts have said the most severe phase of that turmoil appears to have passed, with forced liquidations of leveraged positions largely working their way through the market in recent weeks, helping stabilize volatility even as the index remains well below its June peak. The Kospi’s 52-week high stands at 9,385.59, reached on June 19, underscoring the scale of the pullback that followed the market’s summer volatility.

Even with the recent turbulence, the Kospi remains dramatically higher than year-ago levels, reflecting the extraordinary scale of this year’s rally in Korean equities even after last month’s sharp correction. Goldman Sachs has maintained a bullish long-term outlook on Korean stocks despite the recent volatility, with the bank’s strategists citing a memory chip supercycle driven by record shortfalls in chip supply, strong demand from hyperscale data center operators, and continued growth in artificial intelligence computing needs as key drivers of further potential gains.

Tuesday’s session also came against a backdrop of anticipated monetary policy tightening in South Korea. The Bank of Korea’s outgoing deputy governor said Tuesday that the central bank is likely to raise interest rates further in response to persistent inflationary pressures, a signal that could shape investor expectations heading into the bank’s coming policy decisions.

Elsewhere in the region, broader Asian equity markets showed a mixed picture Tuesday, with some markets tracking Wall Street’s recent strength while others, including South Korea’s Kospi and Singapore’s benchmark index, led gains as investors weighed the interplay between technology-sector momentum and shifting expectations around global monetary policy. On Wall Street, major U.S. indexes closed mostly lower Monday, with the S&P 500 slipping slightly, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipping modestly and the Nasdaq Composite falling further, even as the broader market remained near record territory following a strong run over the preceding weeks.

South Korean equities have drawn particular international attention this year given the scale and speed of both the rally and subsequent correction in chip-heavy names, a dynamic that has drawn comparisons to historic market run-ups, including the technology-driven Nasdaq rally that preceded the dot-com crash in the late 1990s. Despite last month’s sharp pullback, the semiconductor sector has continued to anchor sentiment toward the broader Korean market, with Tuesday’s gains in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix reinforcing the extent to which chip stocks remain the primary driver of the Kospi’s day-to-day performance.

Looking ahead, investors are likely to continue monitoring developments in the global memory chip market, along with any further policy signals from the Bank of Korea regarding the pace and timing of potential interest rate increases. With the government’s newly announced semiconductor cluster initiative still in its early legislative stages, market participants are also expected to watch for further details on how the plan might translate into concrete support for the country’s chip industry in the months ahead.

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One of the biggest problems when planning a long road trip or a getaway with family and friends is often that people have limited space.

Inside a regular car, luggage, camping gear, outdoor equipment, and all the other items that you need for travel can fill up the space very fast. Excessive weight in the passenger compartment can make it harder for you to ride comfortably in the vehicle, can make it more difficult to see behind you, and can make riding more hazardous on the road. For those who travel often, it is important to find a practical solution that will allow them to maximize the space they have while keeping their passengers comfortable.

When you use the space above your car, it’s an easy and very effective way to upgrade your vehicle’s carrying capacity. When goods and equipment are taken on board, dedicated storage areas under the driver’s seat can be installed using high-quality, trusted cargo carriers from providers like Roof Boxes UK, giving the driver the ability to carry large items comfortably and maintain a spacious, organized cabin. Modern cargo containers are designed to shield your goods from the elements, plus keep your vehicle steady on the highway, by means of the use of aerodynamics and tough materials.

Why Vehicle Storage Solutions Matter for Modern Travelers

Car interiors are all about comfort and safety, but they are not necessarily built for long journeys. When you have so much in the trunk, it can be a challenge to organize it properly, to prevent damage to fragile goods, and to avoid unnecessary stress when loading and unloading. The moment you load an unneeded, heavy object into an outside carrier, you alter the entire automobile travel experience for anybody in the vehicle.

Improved Passenger Comfort

Bags and equipment stacked on empty seats or stacked to the ceiling leave passengers with little room to move around and little legroom. Cleaning up the cabin allows everyone to have a bit of privacy while driving for extended periods of time without being suffocated.

Enhanced Safety and Visibility

When a vehicle is too full, the driver may not be able to see out of the rear window. The outside mounting of the gear ensures that you have a clear view and can keep an eye on traffic around you. Also, things that are too loose in the vehicle may pose a risk during sharp turns and sudden stops.

Weather Protection for Expensive Equipment

High-grade external boxes are manufactured with impact-resistant and weather-sealed materials. From driving through torrential rain, scorching hot sun, to snowfalls, your sports gear, sleeping bags, and luggage stay completely dry all the way to the finish line while you’re on the road.

Key Factors to Consider Before Choosing Storage Equipment

Not every travel accessory can fit every car or travel type. To make the most of the purchase, there are a number of factors that need to be considered.

Vehicle Compatibility and Roof Rack Requirements

Your car should have appropriate crossbars or a roof racking system before you install any storage rack. Refer to your vehicle manufacturer’s user manual for the dynamic load capacity, the weight that the roof of the vehicle is able to hold while the vehicle is moving.

Size, Volume, and Shape

Storages are available in a number of different sizes and shapes, usually in liters. A long and narrow shape is best for transporting long items such as skis, snowboards, and fishing rods. A broader and middle-sized container is more functional for general family bags, handbags, and camping gear.

Aerodynamics and Fuel Efficiency

The more volume you put on top of your car, the more air resistance there will be. By selecting a sleek, aerodynamic profile, wind noise will be kept to a minimum inside the vehicle and the drag will be reduced, directly aiding in keeping fuel consumption at an optimum level when driving on the highway for extended periods.

Essential Steps for Preparing and Loading Cargo

For a hassle-free journey, here are some key steps to follow to prepare, balance, and properly secure additional storage equipment before embarking on your trip:

• Check the mounting components. Ensure that all brackets, bolts, and locking systems are firmly in place and level on the roof bars.
• Distribute weight evenly. To balance the load, put the heaviest objects in the center over the cross bars, and lighter ones at the front or back of the container.
• Respect weight limits. Do not exceed the maximum weight capacity as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, or the roof load rating of the carrier.
• Tie up anything that could fall out. Install internal tie-down straps or cargo nets in the box to keep gear from shifting during braking and/or cornering.
• Lock up the container before getting in the vehicle. Make sure dual-side locking mechanisms are set and check the key mechanism before starting your engine.

These are the basic preparation steps to ensure your luggage is secure and your car handles safely in every driving scenario.

Smart Driving Tips with Overhead Equipment

Driving a vehicle with additional height and weight requires slight adjustments to your standard driving habits. Being mindful of these changes ensures a safe and trouble-free trip.

Watch Clearance Height

The total height of your car increases significantly once roof accessories are installed. Always take note of the new clearance measurement before entering low-clearance areas such as underground parking garages, drive-thrus, covered bridges, or toll booths.

Adjust Speed in High Winds

Crosswinds can affect high-profile vehicles more noticeably when an overhead box is attached. Reduce your speed slightly when driving across open bridges or coastal roads during windy conditions to maintain steady control over the steering wheel.

Perform Routine Checks During Stops

During long journeys, make it a habit to check the mounting points every time you stop for fuel or a rest break. Temperature changes and road vibrations can occasionally loosen tension, so a quick physical check provides peace of mind for the remainder of the trip.

Final Thoughts

Investing in dedicated car storage gear is one of the most practical upgrades any motorist can make for road travel. It resolves space limitations, improves passenger comfort, and protects your belongings against unpredictable weather conditions. By selecting the right size, loading your gear strategically, and practicing cautious driving techniques, you can enjoy stress-free journeys wherever the road takes you.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is facing accusations on social media of imitating Catherine, the Princess of Wales, after stepping out in a black cape-style gown at a charity gala in Canada last week, with critics drawing comparisons to a green dress Catherine wore at Wimbledon.

Meghan and Prince Harry attended the David Foster Foundation’s 40th anniversary celebration in Victoria, British Columbia, on Friday, an event honoring four decades of fundraising by the charity founded by the Canadian music producer to support families of children requiring life-saving organ transplants. For the occasion, Meghan wore a black one-shoulder gown by Toronto-based designer Greta Constantine, identified as the label’s Fabrizio One-Shoulder Cape Gown, retailing for $1,795. The dress featured a thigh-high slit and a hemline that flowed into a short train.

Meghan paired the gown with a set of diamond and sapphire butterfly earrings that once belonged to the late Princess Diana, along with a sleek low bun. Harry wore a traditional black tuxedo and bow tie for the appearance, and the couple posed for photos on the red carpet with Foster and his wife, singer and actress Katharine McPhee.

The look quickly drew comparisons on social media to a green midi dress by designer Emilia Wickstead that Catherine wore to Wimbledon earlier this year, with some users pointing to the cape-style silhouette shared by both garments as evidence that Meghan had drawn inspiration from, or directly copied, her sister-in-law’s earlier look. One user wrote on X that Meghan “had to wear a cape dress last night,” questioning the timing of the choice. Another user drew a sharper contrast between the two women’s styling, writing that Catherine’s dress looked like it came with a cape, while saying Meghan looked like she’d “wrapped herself in bedsheets.”

The commentary adds to a long-running pattern of online comparisons between Meghan and Catherine’s fashion choices, a dynamic that has persisted since Meghan joined the royal family in 2018 and has continued even after she and Harry stepped back from official royal duties in 2020. Fashion commentary comparing the two women’s red carpet and public appearance choices has remained a recurring feature of royal-focused entertainment coverage, often accompanied by broader debates over how each woman is perceived by segments of the public and press.

Not all commentary on Meghan’s Victoria appearance was critical. Several fashion outlets covering the gala offered positive assessments of the look, describing the asymmetrical silhouette as well suited to the black-tie occasion and noting favorable comparisons to earlier red carpet appearances in which Meghan favored clean lines and simple, structured silhouettes. Coverage also highlighted the choice to wear a Canadian designer’s gown for the Canada-based event, framing it as a deliberate nod to the host country, alongside the sentimental detail of wearing jewelry once belonging to Diana.

Meghan shared a glimpse of the evening herself the following day, posting a smiling selfie with Harry to Instagram along with video clips from the gala, captioned simply with a Canadian flag and a red heart emoji, offering no further commentary on the outing or the ensuing social media reaction to her dress.

Harry and Foster have maintained a friendship dating back several years, with the music producer previously arranging for Harry, Meghan and their son, Prince Archie, to stay at a private residence on Vancouver Island in 2019 shortly after the couple’s initial relocation to North America. Foster has spoken in the past about his connection to the couple, noting his own Canadian roots and the Commonwealth ties between Canada and the British monarchy as part of what motivated him to assist the family during that period.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California, a decision that followed public statements from the couple describing tensions within the royal family, including allegations of racist attitudes toward their son that they raised publicly in a televised interview. Since their departure, the couple has welcomed a daughter, Princess Lilibet, and continued to build independent media and philanthropic ventures based in the United States, while making occasional public appearances such as Friday’s gala in Canada.

Social media comparisons between Meghan and Catherine’s fashion choices have periodically generated broader news coverage in royal-focused outlets, with commentators noting that near-identical silhouettes, colors or styling choices between the two women tend to draw outsized attention online regardless of the timing or context of each appearance. Fashion historians and royal commentators have periodically pushed back on the framing of such comparisons as evidence of rivalry, noting that overlapping design trends, particularly cape-style and one-shoulder gowns, have been broadly popular across red carpet fashion over the past several years, making similar silhouettes appearing on multiple public figures a common occurrence rather than necessarily a deliberate choice by either woman.

Neither Meghan nor representatives for the Princess of Wales have publicly commented on the social media reaction to Friday’s gala appearance.

LONDON — Britain’s medicines regulator authorized Eli Lilly’s weight-loss pill Foundayo on Monday, making the United Kingdom the first country in Europe to approve the once-daily tablet for both weight management and type 2 diabetes.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, known as the MHRA, cleared the drug, known chemically as orforglipron, for use in adults with a body mass index of 30 or above, as well as for adults with a BMI between 27 and 30 who have at least one weight-related health condition, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The authorization also covers improving blood sugar control in adults whose type 2 diabetes is not adequately managed through other treatments.

Despite the approval, the regulator noted the tablet is not currently accessible through Britain’s National Health Service. “Whilst this tablet is approved for use in the UK,” the MHRA said in its announcement, decisions on NHS availability would follow the agency’s standard evaluation process. That process includes a review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, known as NICE, which is expected to publish its guidance on orforglipron for managing overweight and obesity on November 18.

A Lilly spokesperson told Reuters that Foundayo will launch in the UK later this month through private prescription. The spokesperson said the drug’s private list price in the UK would undercut that of Mounjaro, Lilly’s injectable weight-loss treatment, which currently lists for £330 for a month’s supply, though the company did not disclose specific pricing details for the new pill.

Monday’s approval marks the second oral GLP-1 medication cleared for use in the UK, following Novo Nordisk’s approval for its Wegovy pill in June, intensifying competition between the two pharmaceutical giants in an increasingly crowded weight-loss drug market. That market has long been dominated by injectable therapies from both companies, though oral treatments are rapidly gaining ground even as injectables remain the market leaders due to their established efficacy and convenient once-weekly dosing schedules.

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, welcomed the approval, calling it “another significant day with a second weight-loss pill to be available.” He said the development was particularly meaningful for patients who are unable or unwilling to use injectable medications, expanding the range of treatment options available to those seeking pharmacy-based care.

Clinical trial data submitted in support of the drug’s approval showed meaningful results for patients. In the Phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial, which enrolled more than 3,100 adults with obesity, participants who took the highest 36-milligram dose of orforglipron for 72 weeks lost an average of 11.2% of their body weight, compared with 2.1% among those who received a placebo. More than half of participants on the highest dose, 54.6%, achieved at least a 10% reduction in body weight. Results from the trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Orforglipron works by mimicking glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone the body naturally releases after eating that acts on regions of the brain responsible for regulating appetite, helping patients feel fuller for longer while reducing hunger and food cravings. Treatment begins at a low dose of 0.8 milligrams and is gradually increased through several dose levels, up to a maximum of 17.2 milligrams, with patients generally spending at least one month at each dose level before advancing further. The most commonly reported side effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion and abdominal pain.

Foundayo’s primary advantage over its main rival lies in convenience. The pill can be taken once daily at any time, without restrictions around food or water intake. By contrast, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, followed by a 30-minute wait before eating, drinking or taking other medications.

Foundayo’s UK approval follows a swift authorization process in the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration ccleared the drug in April as part of a program designed to accelerate reviews of high-priority medications, completing its assessment of Lilly’s application in roughly 50 days. Lilly Chair and Chief Executive David Ricks said at the time that the company believed Foundayo could help “level the playing field” for people living with obesity or weight-related complications, describing it as convenient, once-daily obesity care designed for real-world use. Since its U.S. launch, insured patients have been able to access the drug for between $149 and $349 per month depending on dosage.

The drug is also under active regulatory review in the European Union, where Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill has already received a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency, with a final approval decision still pending from the European Commission. Foundayo has also secured approval in the United Arab Emirates, where regulators cleared the drug earlier this year, making the UAE the second country in the world, after the United States, to register the medication.

With both major GLP-1 drugmakers now racing to establish their oral treatments across international markets, Monday’s UK approval further intensifies the competitive landscape between Lilly and Novo Nordisk, as both companies look to capture growing global demand for convenient, pill-based alternatives to their established injectable weight-loss and diabetes treatments.

This article discusses regulatory approval of a prescription medication and is intended for general informational purposes; anyone considering treatment for obesity or type 2 diabetes should consult a doctor or pharmacist about whether a specific medication is appropriate for their individual health needs.

Commercial property dealmaking across the Asia Pacific climbed to unprecedented levels in the first half of 2026, with investors pushing capital into the region despite headwinds from rising energy costs, currency swings, and supply chain strain, according to new data from JLL.

Asia Pacific commercial real estate investment volumes rose 38% year on year to USD $45.5 billion in the second quarter, JLL reported. That brought first-half volumes to a record USD $92.5 billion, a 35% increase from the same period a year earlier.

Japan remained the region’s largest market in the quarter, with investment volumes of USD $10.6 billion, as activity increased across all major property sectors. 

Core investors concentrated on office assets, while value-add buyers targeted industrial properties offering rents below market rates. Data centre demand in Japan stayed strong, underpinned by domestic data sovereignty policies and investment tied to generative artificial intelligence, a sign that technology-linked property continues to draw capital even amid broader geopolitical uncertainty.

Australia recorded USD $8.9 billion in second-quarter investment, up 82% year on year and its strongest quarterly total since the second quarter of 2021. 

Four large portfolio transactions drove much of the growth, with listed REITs, unlisted trusts, developers, and private investors active in the industrial sector, while retail assets also drew renewed buyer interest.

Singapore recorded one of the region’s sharpest jumps. Second-quarter volumes rose 108% year on year to USD $6.7 billion, driven largely by two major deals: CICT’s USD $3 billion acquisition of Paragon Mall from Cuscaden Peak, and IOI Properties’ USD $1.9 billion purchase of Asia Square Tower 2 from CICT.

Hong Kong posted the fastest growth rate in the region, with volumes up 129% to USD $3.1 billion, fuelled by a recovery in retail and office deals, including several linked to assets under receivership. 

India’s market, though smaller in absolute terms, expanded as well, with second-quarter volumes reaching USD $1.6 billion, up 23% year on year, led by office assets, where investment volumes rose 125% on the back of domestic funds, developers and REITs.

Investors Turn Defensive

Across the region, investors continued favouring sectors and markets seen as more resilient, with uncertainty expected to remain a defining feature for the rest of the year. 

Offices held up particularly well in core cities, where limited new supply supported pricing and rents, with demand shaped more by asset quality than by commodity or energy costs.

Data centres were also viewed as relatively insulated from geopolitical tensions, with demand tied to artificial intelligence and cloud spending staying stronger than expected even as broader capital expenditure turned more cautious. 

South Korea, meanwhile, remained a market where elevated interest rates continued to widen the gap between buyer and seller expectations.

Stuart Crow, Chief Executive Officer of Asia Pacific Capital Markets at JLL, said the scale of transactions this quarter shows that capital remains abundant even as investors navigate a difficult geopolitical backdrop. He added that the return of mega-deals in both office and retail demonstrates that large global investors are capitalising on repriced premier core assets.

Pamela Ambler, Head of Investor Intelligence for Asia Pacific at JLL, said investors are pivoting toward sectors with strong structural demand, such as data centres in Japan and logistics in Australia, or toward assets offering quicker yield stabilisation, such as Hong Kong’s recovering office market.

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