DAILY NEWS

Daily News – 27th April 2016

Singapore Economy

The top error firms make in a downturn
Before the recent round of Budget 2016 discussions even opened, analysts cut their GDP growth forecasts for Singapore’s economy to 1.9 per cent from 2.2 per cent. While that is consistent with the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s (MTI) forecast range of 1-3 per cent growth, if this is realised, it would be Singapore’s weakest rate of annual growth since 2009. Struggling housing demand, weak Chinese demand and a net negative impact on the global economy from low oil prices have made an unappealing prognosis for 2016.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/the-top-error-firms-make-in-a-downturn

Singapore Real Estate

Almost 1 in 3 high-end Singapore condos sold at a loss in Q1
A S$4.3 million loss on the sale of a property would be a terrifying prospect for most people. But that eye-watering amount is what the owner of a three-bedroom apartment at The Ritz-Carlton Residences Singapore Cairnhill saw disappear down the sink when the property was sold earlier this year. The seller, a Chinese national who was a permanent resident here, had purchased the unit at S$3,815 per square foot (psf) in June 2013 and resold it at S$2,508 psf, a historical low. This was the most unprofitable deal for private non-landed homes in the first quarter of 2016. And that loss-making sale was not unique. More owners of private property are selling units at a loss against the backdrop of a stagnating local economy, soft rental markets and sliding housing prices. A study by The Edge Property found that 14 per cent of sellers incurred losses in the first three months of 2016, up from 9 per cent in 2015 and 5 per cent in 2014.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/almost-1-in-3-high-end/2731280.html

New rule allowing better use of excess carpark space
In line with a drive to make Singapore car-lite, building owners can now apply to permanently convert excess carpark space – any above the required level – to commercial or other uses in the central area. The area includes Orchard, Bugis, City Hall, Chinatown, Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar and Marina Bay. Details were sent out in a circular to real estate professionals on April 15, the date from which it took effect. No official figures indicate how many buildings could benefit but experts said these may include Wilkie Edge, Peace Centre, Capital Square and Anson House. Some are strata-titled but a spokesman for the manager of CapitaLand Commercial Trust, which owns Wilkie Edge, said any conversion opportunity must be evaluated in terms of an asset’s overall plan and financial feasibility. There is consistent demand for carpark space in the central area, she noted.
http://www.straitstimes.com/business/property/new-rule-allowing-better-use-of-excess-carpark-space

Companies’ Brief

Higher DPU in Q4 for Mapletree Commercial Trust
Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT) delivered a higher distribution per unit (DPU) in the fourth quarter, as the stronger performance at VivoCity mall and some office assets boosted turnover and earnings. DPU for the three months to March 31 rose 1 per cent to 2.02 cents, up from two cents in the same period last year, said trust manager Mapletree Commercial Trust Management yesterday. Net property income came in at $55 million in the fourth quarter, up 3.5 per cent, while gross revenue climbed 2.8 per cent to $73 million.
http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/higher-dpu-in-q4-for-mapletree-commercial-trust?login=true
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/mcts-q4-dpu-up-1

PLife Reit Q1 DPU falls in absence of one-off distribution
Parkway Life Reit’s distribution per unit (DPU) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016, fell 7 per cent to 2.99 Singapore cents, from the previous corresponding period’s 3.21 Singapore cents, which included a one-off distribution of divestment gains. “The DPU from recurring operations continues to grow 5.1 per cent year-on-year,” said the healthcare Reit. Net property income rose 8.5 per cent to S$25.14 million. Gross revenue rose 8.6 per cent to S$26.9 million, driven primarily by contributions from higher yielding properties acquired from the asset recycling initiative completed in March 2015, higher rent from the Singapore properties, and appreciation of the Japanese yen.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/plife-reit-q1-dpu-falls-in-absence-of-one-off-distribution
http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/company-briefs-parkway-life-real-estate-investment-trust?login=true

Soilbuild Construction Group
The Straits Times, e-paper, page 49
http://stepaper.straitstimes.com/jr/jrpc.php?date=2016-04-27&page=1&ed=1

Housing Development Board
The Straits Times, e-paper, page 49
http://stepaper.straitstimes.com/jr/jrpc.php?date=2016-04-27&page=1&ed=1

Global Economy & Global Real Estate

Orchard malls not biting on grants for underground links
You would think that malls along Orchard Road would jump at the chance to build underground links to each other – especially when there are cash grants on offer for this. A scheme to do precisely this has been extended, but developers are still not biting. Even so, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is gathering feedback from industry players on how it can provide more incentives to building owners to provide underground links. “The Government is also studying and reviewing legislation on mandating existing developments to receive new elevated and underground links,” a URA spokesman said.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/orchard-malls-not-biting-on-grants-for-underground-links?login=true

Prince’s old villa in Spain unsold after 2 years
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/princes-old-villa-in-spain-unsold-after-2-years

Australian property obsession becomes election battleground
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/australian-property-obsession-becomes-election-battleground

Reason to be sceptical about China’s rebound in residential investment
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/reason-to-be-sceptical-about-chinas-rebound-in-residential-investment

30 Chelsea Barracks homes in London sold at £4,500 psf
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/30-chelsea-barracks-homes-in-london-sold-at-%C2%A34500-psf

Prince’s Old Villa in Spain Remains Unsold
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-26/prince-s-old-villa-in-spain-unsold-in-sign-o-the-times-in-taste

A One-of-a-Kind Modernist Estate in Brazil for $11.5 Million
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-25/the-grid-house-is-contemporary-brazilian-design-retreat-from-sao-paulo

UK hospitality trade boosts Rowsley’s Q1 earnings
http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/uk-hospitality-trade-boosts-rowsleys-q1-earnings