DAILY NEWS

Daily News – 02nd July 2019

Singapore Real Estate

Q2 home prices post surprise rise, but analysts call it an anomaly
Apartment and condo prices in Singapore rose by 1.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2019 – catching market watchers by surprise. The rise erases the declines that had set in after Q3 last year. Based on the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) flash estimate on Monday, the private property price index for Q2 would be the highest since the first quarter of 2014.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/q2-home-prices-post-surprise-rise-but-analysts-call-it-an-anomaly
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/property/private-property-prices-hit-five-year-high-flash-data
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/private-home-prices-ura-q2-2019-flash-estimates-property-11676188

HDB resale prices slide 0.2% in Q2
Housing and Development Board (HDB) resale flat prices dipped 0.2 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared with the quarter before, according to the latest HDB flash estimates released on Monday. The resale price index was 130.8, down from 131 in the first quarter of the year. The final figures, with more detailed public housing data, will be released on July 26.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/hdb-resale-prices-slide-02-in-q2
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/hdb-flats-resale-prices-fall-q2-2019-continue-decline-11676060

Companies’ Brief

CapitaLand divests stake in HK-listed CCRE for HK$2.83b
CapitaLand has entered into an agreement to sell its entire 24.09 per cent stake in Hong Kong-listed Central China Real Estate (CCRE) to CCRE shareholder Joy Bright Investments for about HK$2.83 billion (S$496 million). At HK$2.83 billion, this works out to HK$4.30 per share; CCRE last traded at HK$3.45 per share on June 28.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/capitaland-divests-stake-in-hk-listed-ccre-for-hk283b
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/capitaland-to-divest-stake-in-hk-listed-central-china-real-estate-for

ARA goes global, more than doubles AUM to S$80b
ARA Asset Management, co-founded by group chief executive John Lim, has gone from strength to strength in its quest to globalise. As at end-2018, its assets under management (AUM) at S$80.1 billion had more than doubled from S$35.6 billion at the point of privatisation in April 2017. The growth was fuelled by mergers and acquisitions and by organic expansion.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/ara-goes-global-more-than-doubles-aum-to-s80b

Cromwell E-Reit to issue 326.1m new units; distributes income to existing unitholders
Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust (Cromwell E-Reit) on Tuesday said it will place out about 326.1 million new units at 46 euro cents each via a private placement, and distribute its income prior to the issue of these new units to “ensure fairness” to existing unitholders. The Reit’s manager previously announced that it will buy six European freehold office properties…
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/cromwell-e-reit-to-issue-3261m-new-units-distributes-income-to-existing
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/cromwell-e-reit-to-distribute-income-to-existing-unitholders-before-issue

Views, Reviews, Forum & Others

‘Say yes to less waste’
Chia Ngiang Hong, President, Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS)
Water is an important precious natural resource. A multi–prong approach is necessary to address the declining quality of our oceans and environmental contamination from industrial and domestic sources has serious implications.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/views-from-the-top/say-yes-to-less-waste

Opportunities abound in London’s private residential market
In May 2019, prime central London prices fell 0.3 per cent amid continued Brexit uncertainty. While the ongoing ambiguity may be daunting, the higher risks may present opportunities to obtain prime real estate in Central London, for investors with the longer investment horizon in mind. Despite rising doubts, there were signs that buyers remained confident of the London market…
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/opportunities-abound-in-londons-private-residential-market