STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-British Land boosted by bullish HSBC note

Shares in British Land (LSE: BLND.L - news) rise 2 percent, among the top gainers on the FTSE 100, boosted by positive comments from HSBC in a report focused on UK commercial real estate.

"Europe's developed real estate markets are past their cyclical low point and now in various stages of recovery, led by a resurgent UK economy" HSBC says in a note.

"Investor (Other OTC: IVSBF - news) confidence is now improving and secondary property and regional markets will increasingly be considered investment grade. It's no longer just about London."

In the report in which the bank initiates on 10 UK real estate firms, HSBC names British Land its key "overweight", citing its exposure to central London combined with UK regional property with structurally higher yields.

The bank also starts Hammerson (Other OTC: HMSNF - news) , Intu Properties (Other OTC: CCRGF - news) , Segro (Other OTC: SEGXF - news) , Derwent London (LSE: DLN.L - news) , and Great Portland Estates with "overweight" ratings.

Meanwhile, it starts Capital & Counties, Land Securities, Londonmetric Property and Shaftesbury (LSE: SHB.L - news) with "neutral" recommendations.

Reuters messaging rm://tricia.wright1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net