Blackstone has strong second quarter

Blackstone has raised $1.9 billion for real estate investment in second quarter 2015 and $18.3 billion year-to-date, according to its second quarter earnings report.

“We produced solid results for our investors in the second quarter with strong realization activity despite challenging market conditions,” said Stephen Schwarzman, chairman and CEO of Blackstone, in a statement.

Blackstone reached a record level of investment activity, with $8 billion invested or committed at the end of the second quarter across its three property fund series: Blackstone Real Estate Partners, a series of closed-end real estate funds; Blackstone Property Partners, a core-plus open-end fund; and Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies.

The majority of Blackstone’s earnings in the first half of the year came from Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII, which closed in March and raised $15.8 billion. According to