In 2025, data centers were obsessed with securing new sources of power. But Lisa Coca , partner at Toyota Ventures , thinks they’ll adjust their focus for 2026. “The 2026 data center energy conversation is likely to shift from demand to resilience and the need to accelerate plans to decouple from the grid,” she said. Decoupling could solve some challenges that data centers face, namely in resistance from grid operators and the public, who are increasingly worried that the new loads are driving up their elec ...

Core Insights - The commercial real estate sector is facing challenges, with leaders expressing less optimism for 2026 compared to previous years [1][2] Group 1: Market Sentiment - A survey indicates that 83% of respondents expect revenue improvements by the end of 2026, down from 88% last year [2] - Fewer respondents plan to increase spending, with 68% anticipating higher overall expenses next year [2] Group 2: Office Sector - Vacancy rates in the office sector are expected to drop below 18% as tenant demand increases, with a notable flight to quality in Class A buildings [3] - Office construction is at its lowest level in over 30 years, indicating a significant slowdown in new developments [3] Group 3: Multifamily Sector - In the multifamily sector, rents are beginning to ease due to a record level of new supply, although it has led investment sales volume since 2015 [4] - The share of multifamily in total investment volume is expected to decrease as investors diversify into other sectors like office and data centers [4] Group 4: Data Centers - Data centers are highlighted as a bright spot in the commercial real estate landscape, with demand significantly outpacing supply [5] - Nine major global markets have fully pre-leased their new construction pipeline, indicating strong demand [5] - However, data centers face challenges related to financing, grid capacity, zoning, and local politics [6] Group 5: Prop Tech and AI Integration - The integration of AI in real estate operations is becoming increasingly significant, with many companies relying on AI to inform investment decisions [7][9] - The interest in property technology (Prop Tech) is surging, reflecting the growing importance of data in commercial real estate [8]

Group 1 - SoftBank has committed to investing $40 billion in OpenAI, with a pre-money valuation of $260 billion, and has fulfilled this commitment by sending approximately $22 to $22.5 billion recently [1][3] - Following this investment, SoftBank's ownership stake in OpenAI is expected to exceed 10% [2] - Microsoft remains a significant stakeholder in OpenAI, owning around 27% of the company, while SoftBank's investment highlights its strategic importance for the company's future [3] Group 2 - The investment landscape for AI is highly competitive, with significant financial efforts being made to fund ambitious AI projects, including SoftBank's recent $4 billion acquisition of Digital Bridge, a data center company [4][5] - OpenAI is projected to incur $1.4 trillion in compute costs over the next eight years, necessitating collaboration with major companies like Oracle and Microsoft to secure funding [6] - The ongoing initiatives, including a $500 billion project involving OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, indicate a substantial commitment to expanding AI infrastructure [6][7]

Core Insights - The commercial real estate (CRE) outlook for 2026 is shaped by a slower-than-expected economy, rising unemployment, and a pause in construction across most sectors [3][10] - Despite challenges, there is a growing optimism in the CRE sector, with capital beginning to flow again and interest rates decreasing [11][17] General Investment - Various reports indicate a "new equilibrium" in the CRE market, with terms like "firmer fundamentals" and "ongoing recovery" being used [5] - A Deloitte survey shows that 83% of global executives expect revenue improvement by the end of 2026, down from 88% the previous year, with 68% anticipating higher expenses [6][7] Capital Markets - Colliers predicts a 15% to 20% increase in sales volume in 2026 as institutional and cross-border capital reenters the market [15] - CoStar reports a 40% year-over-year increase in third-quarter sales volume, with banks easing back into commercial real estate lending [16][17] Specific Sectors - The office market is believed to have bottomed, with vacancy rates expected to drop below 18% as tenants return [19] - Industrial construction has decreased by 63% since 2022, but net absorption is projected to rise to 220 million square feet due to reshoring and data center demand [21] - Retail is shifting towards smaller footprints, with the average retail lease falling below 3,500 square feet for the first time since 2016 [23] - Multifamily rents are easing due to a record level of new supply, although multifamily has led investment sales volume since 2015 [25] - Data centers are experiencing high demand, with 100% of new construction in nine major markets already pre-leased, but face financing and local political challenges [26][27] REITs - Public-to-private REIT transactions and portfolio mergers are expected to dominate as listed valuations lag behind private market pricing [28] - REIT stocks, which underperformed in 2025, may outperform in 2026 due to a divergence between stock market valuations and REIT valuations [29][30]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (“Duos” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DUOT), through its operating subsidiary Duos Edge AI, Inc. (“Duos Edge AI”), a provider of adaptive, modular, and scalable Edge Data Center (“EDC”) solutions, today announced its additional deployment in Texas as well as its expansion into the Illinois market, serving the Greater Chicagoland Area. Following continued execution and customer adoption across multiple Texas markets, this milest ...

Core Viewpoint - The commercial real estate sector is showing signs of recovery as interest rates decline, but sentiment among leaders is less optimistic compared to the previous year, with expectations for revenue improvement decreasing slightly from 88% to 83% for 2026 [1][2]. Sector Summaries Office Sector - Vacancy rates in the office sector are projected to drop below 18% as more tenants return, indicating a potential bottoming out of the market [3]. - There is a notable trend of "flight to quality," with Class A buildings nearing full occupancy, while office construction is at its lowest in over 30 years [3]. Multifamily Sector - The multifamily sector is experiencing easing rents due to a record level of new supply entering the market, although it has led investment sales volume since 2015 [4][8]. - Despite the easing of rents, demand remains strong as many potential homebuyers are unable to purchase homes, leading to increased rental demand [8][9]. Data Centers - Data centers are highlighted as a bright spot in the commercial real estate landscape, with demand significantly outpacing supply, and 100% of new construction in nine major global markets is already fully pre-leased [4][5]. - However, data centers face challenges related to financing, grid capacity, zoning, and local politics [5]. Future Outlook - The multifamily sector may benefit from potential incentives for affordable housing construction, although specifics are not yet defined [6][7]. - There is an expectation of future supply shortages in the rental apartment market as the construction of new buildings takes time, despite the current influx of new supply [9].

Core Viewpoint - New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. asserts that the civil complaint filed by the New Mexico Attorney General is unfounded and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations [1]. Group 1: Company Response to Lawsuit - The company describes the New Mexico lawsuit as a baseless attack on its leadership and operations, emphasizing its commitment to defend its reputation in court [1]. - New Era has invested over $10 million in state taxes and local businesses in New Mexico since its inception, highlighting its role as a corporate citizen [2]. - The company plans to continue executing its business strategy and delivering value to stakeholders despite the lawsuit [3]. Group 2: Business Operations and Future Plans - New Era is focused on its digital infrastructure business, specifically the development of a 1+ gigawatt hyperscale data center in Ector County, Texas, and has entered into an agreement to acquire a 50% ownership interest in Texas Critical Data Centers LLC [5]. - The company states that the 87 wells mentioned in the lawsuit are immaterial to its current business model and were already in the process of being divested [5]. - New Era emphasizes that it has never been affiliated with the companies mentioned in the lawsuit, asserting that the allegations are based on inaccuracies [5].

[Music] Welcome back to Market on Close. I'm Sam Bardis alongside Alex Coffeeoffe. So just some final thoughts on today's session, Alex.I mean really the conversation right now has been centered around the 2026 outlook as most of our guests have been talking about over the last 90 minutes or so. The guests I've been speaking to really believe that the beginning of 2026 is likely going to be really an extension of the end of 2025. And what they mean by that is the drivers which are really propelling this mar ...

The power sector is grappling with a fundamental mismatch: hyperscale data centers demand electricity at unprecedented speed and scale, while the infrastructure to serve them operates on timelines measured in years, not months. According to Stephen Empedocles, PhD, founder and CEO of Clark Street Associates (CSA), an advisory firm specializing in government funding for technology companies, the industry may be getting some of its assumptions wrong—and the consequences could ripple through grid planning, su ...

As electricity demand from data centers continues to surge, a persistent question has dogged the industry: Are residential ratepayers footing the bill for massive tech infrastructure? According to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and an independent study it commissioned, the answer is a definitive no. As a guest on The POWER Podcast, Mandy Ulrich, senior manager of energy and water for Americas East at AWS, outlined the company’s energy strategy and discussed findings from a study by Energy and Environmental Econ ...