Office Builders' Bets on City of London Sour

"Property companies including British Land Plc (BLND) and Land Securities Group Plc (LAND) restarted City of London office projects this year and last, betting that the increase in 2010 rents would continue into this year as the financial industry bounced back. The prospects have dimmed over the last few months as Europe's sovereign debt crisis and a stalling U.K. economy prompted companies to cut jobs and delay office moves."