Overview
Asia Pacific stock markets endured another tepid month in May as investors remained focused on rising inflationary pressures, as a surge in commodity prices threatens to drive up inflation. The region also contended with a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections across several countries including India, Japan and parts of Southeast Asia. A spike in caseloads in Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam, which had the most success in curbing infection levels, also unnerved investors. Vaccine rollouts, at rates lagging those worldwide are compounding concerns that protracted border controls will delay an economic recovery. Property stocks across the region reacted by underperforming both the region’s equity and bond indices.
Listed Real Estate
The GPR/APREA Listed Real Estate Composite barely remained in positive territory, with marginal gains in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan just managing to offset declines in the other regional heavyweights of China and Singapore. China real estate stocks slipped, after a meeting held in Beijing contemplated a property tax to rein in rampant speculation in the housing market dragged on sentiment.
However, Hong Kong shares closed higher for a second month in a row as investors bought into the strong Chinese currency and the US Federal Reserve’s commitment towards monetary accommodation. Despite grappling with the world’s highest infection caseload, India stocks scored the highest returns as the merger of Indiabulls Real Estate and Embassy Group gained momentum. Regulatory pathways cleared for the merger will create one of India’s largest listed real estate companies.
REITs
The GPR/APREA Composite REIT Index held on to record another positive month in May. However, most REIT markets in the Asia Pacific underperformed equities. Hong Kong was the exception, clocking the highest returns at just over 3%. Sector-wise, gains were also tepid across the main property segments. S-REITs were among the underperformers in the region, as the country heightened restrictions over the increase in infections. Nonetheless, industrial S-REITs continue to increase their assets under management, with significant acquisitions valued at over S$5 billion announced this year.
A significant development also greeted REIT markets in the region. China’s long-awaited public REITs market kicked off, after regulators approved the first batch of its REITs, comprising nine stocks that will raise an estimated RMB30 billion for infrastructure projects. However, unlike other markets, Chinese REITs are only backed by infrastructure. For now, eligible underlying assets do not include commercial properties such as shopping malls or offices. Meanwhile, Hong Kong saw its first logistics-focused REIT list, after SF REIT successfully debuted on the territory’s stock exchange.
The region is also experiencing heightened M&A activity in the REIT space. In addition to the current tussle for Invesco Office J-REIT in Japan, ASX-listed Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust has also been the target of a takeover bid by Canada’s NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT and Singapore sovereign wealth fund, GIC.
Outlook
As rising resource prices and escalating shipping costs heighten the possibility of an earlier-than-expected policy rate hike, inflation will continue to be a dominant theme for investors. However, treasury yields have retreated in May, after the Fed commented that such price spikes, that stem from base effects, will be transitory. Investors are buying into the view that the Fed will tolerate higher prices before hiking rates and tapering bond purchases. Amid the ongoing economic recovery, Asia Pacific REITs will continue to benefit from the sustained low interest rate environment and strong demand for real estate investments among institutional buyers.
