london global direct real estate investment is forecast to rise 20 percent this year to 380 billion led by a sharp rebound in the united states with total volumes still about half the markets 2007 peak a report saidinvestments in commercial real estate mainly offices malls and industrial properties had reached 316 billion in 2010 a 50 percent jump from an eightyear low of 209 billion in 2009 property consultancy jones lang lasalle saidinvestment volumes soared to 759 billion at the markets peak in 2007 before the property bubble burst and helped trigger the 2008 global financial crisisbarring further sovereign debt crises or financial shocks the momentum of 2010 is expected to continue over the next 12 months and we predict global volumes for 2011 should increase by 20 to 25 percent said arthur de haast head of the firms international capital groupfor 2011 jones lang expects volumes in the americas region to jump 40 percent to 135 billion from last year and for the europe middle east and africa emea and asia pacific regions to rise by between 10 and 15 percent to 150 billion and 95 billion respectivelythe americas recovery has mainly been underpinned by investor interest in core gateway cities like new york washington dc san francisco and rio de janeiro said steve collins a jones lang managing directorin the united kingdom europes largest market 2010 volumes were up by 46 percent to 49 billion as investors targeted london which is viewed as a transparent and more liquid safe haven from economic and financial uncertainties elsewhere the consultancy saida number of major asia pacific markets also posted significant growth in 2010 volumes including a 219 percent yearonyear jump in singapore 77 percent in australia 41 percent in china and a 28 percent in hong kong