The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Brookfield Asset Management said Monday that it had amassed $9-billion in commitments for a private real estate fund in the latest signal that large investors are hungry for more "real" assets (all figures U.S.). The Globe's Jacqueline Nelson writes that the fund is $2-billion larger than its initial target. Real estate has a broad appeal to investors hunting for yield and looking for ways to diversify their investments amid volatile equity market conditions. Brookfield's fund is supported by more than 100 institutional investor groups, including sovereign wealth funds and pension plans. Brookfield has itself pledged $2.3-billion to the fund through Brookfield Property Partners LP. The new real estate fund, called Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners II, has already begun to invest. About 45 per cent of assets have already been promised to pay for properties in the United States, Europe and Brazil. Investments made with the new Brookfield fund include a broad range of buildings, such as Berlin's Potsdamer Platz office and retail development. The fund is also expected to buy the rest of mall owner Rouse Properties it does not already own.