BOSTON-Torto Wheaton Research reports that the office absorption rate is negative for the first quarter of this year. Economists there insist that this does not mean the market is in serious trouble, however.

FRAMINGHAM, MA-In an unusual move for a high tech company these days, Connected Corp., an application service provider, plans to relocate its office to a larger space here in the old Staples Inc. warehouse.

BOSTON-The Boston Marriott Copley Place, the second-largest hotel here, is rumored to be on the market with reports indicating that locally-based Westbrook Partners LLC is interested in acquiring the 1,147 room hotel.

BOSTON-The Spring/Summer REIT Report put out by AEW Capital Management LP, a locally-based real estate investment advisory firm, indicates that REITs will outperform most areas of the equity market over the next 12 to 18 months.

NEWTON, MA-Northland Development Corp. changes its name to NDC Development Associates. The locally-based company says that the new name more accurately reflects the company's focus on development and its culture.

EASTPROVIDENCE, RI-Arbor Commercial Mortgage LLC refinances two properties here--a 39-unit complex and Parkway Apartments. The Uniondale, NY-based company provides debt and equity financing for residential, industrial and retail properties.

BOSTON-The mayor brokers a deal with the Fan Pier developer and gets him to agree to lower building heights on the waterfront development. The heights were considered a safety for pilots coming into Logan.

BOSTON-In the latest round between the FAA and City Hall over the Fan Pier project, City Hall accuses the FAA of linking the building heights to the runway the FAA wants built at Logan Airport.