London retains top global rank for commercial real estate investment

London last year remained the top city in the world for investment in commercial real estate, despite concerns about Brexit, according to Frank Knight. As the United Kingdom prepared to exit the European Union, London last year attracted £16.2 billion ($21 billion) of investment in commercial office buildings. That exceeded 2018 commercial office investments totaling £14.3 billion ($18.5 billion) in Manhattan, £12.1 billion ($15.6 billion) in Paris and £8.4 billion ($10.8 billion) in Hong Kong. South Korean investment in Central London office space totaled £2.56 billion ($3.3 billion) last year, an eight-fold increase from £300 million ($388 million). William Beardmore-Gray, Knight Frank’s head of Central London, said London’s “resilience and reputation as a safe haven for investment, despite Brexit, is remarkable.”