IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LightBox, a leading provider of commercial real estate (CRE) information and technology, released its Monthly CRE Activity Index for October, revealing a slight decrease in market activity after a strong September.

This aggregate measure of activity in commercial property listings, environmental due diligence, and appraisals collectively tracks shifts in the velocity of key functions that support CRE transactions, and therefore provides a useful leading indicator of deal activity. After a bullish 8.3-point rise in September, the Index ticked down 2.3 points in October to 95.9 but landed well above 79.7 one year ago.

The average daily volume of environmental due diligence activity behind the Index rose by 5% in what could signal the first round of underwriting on deals expected to close by the end of the year. Lenders’ appraisal activity month over month was stable, and property listings declined 5% after the strong 18% uptick over August, a sign of an expanding universe of available properties.

October’s slight dip aligns with historical trends, where the Index often softens after a strong August-to-September rebound. The uncertainty leading up to the November election and the higher 10-year Treasury rate both contributed to a cautious, “wait-and-see” sentiment on the part of investors.

“Our Index performance this month reflects both typical seasonal adjustments and broader market dynamics as stakeholders balance opportunities with election-related uncertainties,” said Manus Clancy, LightBox head of Data Strategy. “Investor confidence remains strong, but caution is prevailing as they anticipate both economic and political shifts in Q4.”

Despite the slight October dip, the CRE Activity Index heads into the final months of the year at a still-high 95.9 reading. Last year, November and December activity was lackluster as the market remained frozen at elevated interest rates with little relief in sight, ending 2023 at the Index’s four-year low of 48.2. With the November election in the rearview mirror, there can now be clarity emerging on several policy issues affecting CRE finance, including taxes, housing, climate change, and bank regulations, at a critical point in the market’s recovery.

After a slow start to 2024, some investors are actively shopping for opportunities while others are waiting until later in the rate cutting cycle. September laid the foundation for October’s strong deal volume, which will contribute to a continued stabilization in property pricing that will add momentum to Q4 activity.

“These signs of traction starting to build could contribute to a strong finish to 2024 as the market establishes a new normal that will eventually stabilize at levels closer to 2019 levels. Overall, the market is showing a growing intention to transact, and CRE professionals, are exhibiting more optimism than they’ve shown in several years, ” Clancy said.

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About LightBox

At LightBox, we are at the forefront of delivering advanced and precise solutions for commercial real estate intelligence. Our dedication to innovation propels real estate professionals forward by providing them with the essential tools required to navigate complex decisions, minimize risk, and boost productivity across the spectrum of real estate operations. LightBox is renowned for its commitment to promoting excellence and fostering connections in the industry, serving an extensive clientele of over 30,000 customers. Our diverse client base spans commercial and government sectors, including but not limited to brokers, developers, investors, lenders, insurers, technologists, environmental advisors, appraisers, and other businesses that depend on geospatial information. To discover more about how LightBox can illuminate the path to informed real estate solutions, visit us at: www.LightBoxRE.com

Media inquiries: media@lightboxRE.com

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SOURCE LightBoxRE

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to mandate cyber risk management and reporting requirements for certain surface transportation owners and operators.

“TSA has collaborated closely with its industry partners to increase the cybersecurity resilience of the nation’s critical transportation infrastructure,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “The requirements in the proposed rule seek to build on this collaborative effort and further strengthen the cybersecurity posture of surface transportation stakeholders. We look forward to industry and public input on this proposed regulation.”

This rule proposes to continue TSA’s commitment to performance-based requirements. Building on the performance-based cybersecurity requirements TSA previously issued via annual Security Directives since 2021, the proposed rule leverages the cybersecurity framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the cross-sector cybersecurity performance goals developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Consistent with these requirements and standards, this rule proposes:

To require that certain pipeline, freight railroad, passenger railroad and rail transit owner/operators with higher cybersecurity risk profiles establish and maintain a comprehensive cyber risk management program;To require these owner/operators, and higher-risk bus-only public transportation and over-the-road bus owner/operators, currently required to report significant physical security concerns to TSA to report cybersecurity incidents to CISA; andTo extend to higher-risk pipeline owner/operators TSA’s current requirements for rail and higher-risk bus operations to designate a physical security coordinator and report significant physical security concerns to TSA.

TSA asserts that maintaining an effective cybersecurity posture is critically important to ensuring that the surface transportation sector is prepared for, and able to manage, cyber risks. The requirements contained in this proposed rule would strengthen cybersecurity resilience across the surface transportation systems sector.

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SOURCE Transportation Security Administration

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Molecular Instruments® (MI), the inventor of the HCR™ Imaging technology, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Visiopharm, a global leader in AI-driven precision pathology software. This collaboration brings together MI’s clinical-grade HCR™ platform with Visiopharm’s Oncotopix® Discovery software, empowering users with a highly flexible, deep learning approach to precise and efficient image analysis for RNA-ISH assays.

MI’s class-leading HCR™ Pro RNA-ISH assay, lauded for making protease-free sample preparation the standard for RNA-ISH, provides unparalleled specificity and sensitivity in RNA detection and enables seamless integration with existing IHC/IF workflows. When combined with Oncotopix® Discovery, researchers can analyze chromogenic and fluorescent HCR™ Pro RNA-ISH and HCR™ Pro RNA-ISH + IHC/IF co-detection images with more precise segmentation and spot counting, ensuring accurate gene expression profiling in even the most challenging samples.

“Our North Star at MI is to set bioimaging assays to a true ‘clinical-grade’ standard, focusing on performance, robustness, and accessibility,” said Dr. Aneesh Acharya, Chief Commercial Officer at Molecular Instruments. “Partnering with Visiopharm reflects our shared drive to delivering clinical-grade assays, paired with world-class analysis tools that empower pathologists and support downstream decision-making. We’re thrilled to kickstart this journey with the team at Visiopharm to bring new possibilities to RNA-ISH.”

Visiopharm’s Oncotopix® Discovery software enables users to explore complex tissue data intuitively and customize analyses to fit their specific experimental needs. Its advanced exploratory capabilities enhance analysis accuracy in complex tissue samples. The ability to develop custom deep-learning-based segmentation algorithms, which can account for both cellular and nuclear morphology, enables more precise quantification of RNA. This marks a significant improvement over traditional methods, which often struggle with complex or irregular structures, such as a nuclear or multinucleate cells, leading to missed or inaccurate counts.

“At Visiopharm, our mission is to empower researchers with advanced tools that deliver unmatched precision in image analysis,” said Regan Baird, Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategy Deployment of Visiopharm. “Partnering with Molecular Instruments allows us to elevate the standard of RNA-ISH analysis, integrating our Oncotopix® Discovery software with MI’s HCR™ technology to provide researchers with an unprecedented level of accuracy and efficiency. We are excited to collaborate and advance the field of precision pathology, accelerating breakthroughs in disease research and diagnostics.”

This partnership marks a pivotal advancement in research, combining high-performance, clinical-grade RNA-ISH with sophisticated image analysis. Together, we are equipping scientists to drive breakthroughs in disease studies, offering deeper insights into gene expression and protein interactions. By integrating our innovative technologies, we aim to accelerate discoveries across translational medicine, where accurately and precisely understanding gene and protein expression are essential.

About Molecular Instruments: 
Molecular Instruments® (www.hcrimaging.com) develops and synthesizes molecular kits powered by the breakthrough HCR™ imaging platform for applications in academic research, drug development, synthetic biology, and clinical pathology and diagnostics.

About Visiopharm: 
Visiopharm is a leading provider of AI-driven precision pathology software for research and diagnostics. In research, it is a technology leader providing tools that help scientists, pathologists, and image analysis experts produce accurate data for all types of tissue-based research. In diagnostics, it is a leader within clinical applications, with no fewer than nine diagnostic algorithms cleared under IVDR for EU and UK customers. These applications provide diagnostic decision support and can be easily activated and integrated into existing lab workflows. Founded in 2002, Visiopharm is privately owned and operates internationally with over 750 customer accounts in more than 40 countries. The company’s headquarters are located in Denmark’s Medicon Valley, with legal entities in Sweden, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, and local representation in France and China.
For more information visit visiopharm.com.

Media Contact: Joyce Yoo, Associate Director of Marketing, joyce@molecularinstruments.com

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SOURCE Molecular Instruments