Losses on commercial property loans are one problem. But a bigger, often-overlooked, risk is the potential for CRE to be a drag on the U.S. economy for years to come, or its potential to trigger a slide back, into a double-dip recession.
First the U.K. slapped a new tax on bankers' bonuses, and now the banks are slapping back by threatening to take their business elsewhere. That could be a huge blow to London's position as a leading global financial center.
After a painful 2008, insurance companies have made a comeback, with plenty of cash on their balance sheets. As a result, mergers and acquisitions will likely dominate the insurance and reinsurance market in 2010.
