LUXEMBOURG (dpa-AFX) - Commercial real estate specialist Aroundtown is feeling the effects of the weak environment. Thus, in the first half of the year, the company recorded a loss of billions below the line due to the devaluation of its real estate portfolio, Aroundtown announced in Luxembourg on Wednesday. The net loss amounted to around 1.3 billion euros, compared with a profit of 471 million euros a year ago. Net rental income fell three percent to 596 million euros. FFO I (funds from operations), an important operating earnings indicator in the real estate sector, fell by six percent to 175.3 million euros. Aroundtown attributed the decline primarily to property sales and higher interest rates. The company signed sales with a volume of 545 million euros, which was slightly below the book value. Aroundtown was slightly more optimistic for the full year and raised its forecast for FFO I slightly. It is now expected to be between 310 million and 340 million euros, ten million euros higher than previously forecast./nas/mis