But there are fears that materials price scalation and rising wages may cut into profits

California-based Oracle Corp. on Dec. 17 announced that it has entered into an agreement to buy Melbourne, Australia-based Aconex Ltd., a company that offers a cloud-based system for managing construction-team collaboration, for $7.80 per share in cash.

Firms see $250 million in cost synergies, but their shares drop as market is cautious on the deal.

Fatalities in private-sector construction were up 5%, to 991, last year, highest level since at least 2008.