Alternative Investing Report - March 3, 2026

*as of 3/2; Sources: S&P, BTC, FTSE, DJRE, CL50

Industrial rents hit $8.94 per square foot nationally in January, a 5.1% year-over-year increase, with Atlanta recording the largest annual growth, followed by Miami and Tampa. Meanwhile, the amount of new supply to be completed in 2026 is projected to be the lowest in a decade, and the low point of the next five years. A large part of the expected completions later this decade are the data centers that began construction last year, with 2025 showing record data center development, the majority of which came in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Columbus.

➨ TAKEAWAY: The temporarily lull in completed supply is beneficial to current landlords, but could make it difficult for potential buyers. Still, AI infrastructure, automation, and reshoring are spurring significant new tenant demand, which in turn is leading to steady rent increases and keeping buyer and investor demand robust.

💰 Gold price surges: Largely due to the conflict in the Middle East, gold jumped above $5,400 before settling in the $5,300 range, up 3% on the weekend, and is now up nearly 23% so far in 2026.

🏡 Hottest rental markets: According to a new report from RentCafe, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Minneapolis are the three U.S. cities with the most rental demand so far in 2026, with 11 of the top 30 on the list coming from the Midwest.

💵 Blackstone redemptions: BCRED, the asset manager’s $82 billion flagship private credit fund, has seen a record-high $1.7 billion of outflows so far this year as investors start to exit the asset class.

🚀 Biotech’s biggest 2025 raises: Biotech megarounds picked up steam last year, with AI-related startup Isomorphic Labs’ and obesity biotech Kailera Theraputics’ respective $600 million funding rounds leading the way.

🪙 Clarity Act as catalyst: The long-gestating Clarity Act crypto market structure legislation could trigger a crypto bull run if and when it passes, potentially sometime this summer, bringing some hope of revival to a struggling market.

👢 Hulk Hogan’s boots: The late wrestler’s bloodied boots from the first ever WrestleMania in 1985 sold for $1.04 million, the first ever piece of wrestling memorabilia to hit seven figures.

A massive luxury property in the Caribbean nation of Turks and Caicos is coming up for auction with no reserve next month — though if you really want it, it’s also listed for $50 million. The Triton Luxury Villa has a main house, four bungalows and a staff house, with a combined 15 bedroom and 15 bathrooms spread out over seven acres. The property is a racket sport lover’s dream, with two padel courts, a pickleball court, a tennis hardcourt, and the only red clay tennis court in the country. The seller bought the property, which has been featured on multiple reality shows, in 2019 for $11.5 million and has spent upwards of $30 million on renovations since.