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Focuses on the economic performance of commercial real estate in Orange County, California. Indication of low interest rates; Willingness of investors to accept lower returns on commercial buildings; Trend of commercial flipping.

The article offers news briefs related to businesses and industries in California. Venture capitalist Paul Heeschen's 58% stake in Diedrich Coffee Inc. exceeded 150 million dollars which was believed to be the rate of return on the estimated nine million dollars he put into the company since 1992. Martin Diedrich, the company's founder and the one who runs Kean coffeehouses in Newport Beach and Tustin, California, is leaving his post.

The article focuses on the performance of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) in Orange County, California. It is noted that OCERS investments have lost about 20% of their value in 2008. Despite such losses, OCERS aims to achieve an average yearly return of about 8%. However, future returns could be lower as the fund looks to safer investments, such as government bonds.

The article focuses on the move of ValueAct Capital Partners LP to vote against the bid of Advanced Medical Optics Inc. to buy its rival, Bausch & Lomp Inc., for $4.3 billion in California. Advanced Medical chief executive Jim Mazzo stated that he was surprised and disappointed to ValueAct's opposition citing the hedge fund's earlier decision to assist in financing the deal. The hedge fund said that the deal would cut its returns and doubted the integration of both companies.

The article discusses factors which have influenced investor demand for low-rise office buildings in Orange County, California. The increase of the percentage yield on ten-year Treasury bonds allows investors to get loans at lucrative rates. The average rent for garden office buildings is expected to continue to increase. Tenants are forced to consider the low-rise as an alternative due to the increase of rents for class A office buildings. Lease activity and office employment has continued to increase.

The article presents the annual book of lists for 2004 of the "Orange County Business Journal." The book of lists gives businesspeople in Orange County (OC), California, the information and tools they need to make informed decisions. The particular category discussed in the article relates to initial public offerings. The list is comprised of their 2004 rankings; their names, addresses, websites and emails; amount raised (in million US dollars); first day trading volume; first day closing price; closing price as of December 31, 2003; percentage change; annualized rate of return. Other information like listing exchanges and company/product description are also given.

Reports on the impact of interest rates increases on mortgage refinances and home loans in Orange County, California. Decline in the amount of returns to investors; Number of industrial development projects; Job losses in the manufacturing and warehouse sector.

Reports on the investment returns enjoyed by Irvine, California-based Fife Waterfield & Co. from its sale of Santa Monica, California-based STV Communications. Sonic Foundry's purchasing of STV for $66 million; Fife Waterfield's bringing in of more investors for STV.

Focuses on the stock market of Orange County, California. Capitalization indexes in Orange County; Week's best and worst performers in the Orange County stock market; Orange County-based companies with $1 billion or higher market cap as of March 12, 1998.