GPR / APREA Index

Please find below the rebalancing results for the following GPR/APREA index series, which will become effective as of 20 December 2021 (start of trading):

• GPR/APREA Investable 100 Index
• GPR/APREA Investable REIT 100 Index
• GPR/APREA Composite Index
• GPR/APREA Composite REIT Index (indicated with an asterisk)

GPR/APREA Investable 100 Index

INCLUSIONS

CHN	6158 HK	Zhenro Properties Group Ltd
JPN	3295 JT	Hulic REIT
JPN	3465 JT	Ki-Star Real Estate Co. Ltd.
PHL	SMPH PM	SM Prime Holdings

EXCLUSIONS

CHN	683 HK	Kerry Properties Ltd.	Liquidity too low
JPN	8986 JT	Daiwa Securities Living Investment Corp.	Liquidity too low
MYS	MSGB MK	Mah Sing Group Bhd	Liquidity too low

GPR/APREA Investable REIT 100 Index

INCLUSIONS

AUS	HDN AT	HomeCo Daily Needs REIT
IND	EMBASSY IB	Embassy Office Parks REIT
KOR	034830 KS	Korea Real Estate Investment & Trust Co., Ltd

EXCLUSIONS

NZL	KPG NZ	Kiwi Property Group Ltd	Liquidity too low
SGP	CDREIT SP	CDL Hospitality Trusts	Liquidity too low

GPR/APREA Composite Index + GPR/APREA Composite REIT Index

INCLUSIONS

AUS	HCW AT	HealthCo Healthcare and Wellness REIT *
IND	ASFI IB	Ashiana Housing Ltd
KOR	034830 KS	Korea Real Estate Investment & Trust Co., Ltd *

EXCLUSIONS

None

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Overview

Asia Pacific equities reversed two months of consecutive declines to record their best monthly performance since December last year. The benchmark, which has been roiled by China’s regulatory crackdown in sectors from technology, education and property, rose 2.5% in August to outperform the regional property counters. Investors took heart at comments made from the Fed’s closely watched annual Jackson Hole meeting, after the Fed Chair reiterated that tapering does not mean tightening. The region’s markets also cheered after the Chinese central bank made its biggest weekly cash injection into the banking system since February. Still, the bounce came after July’s pummeling as it continued to lag the region’s property counters year-to-date with just 2.4% returned, as compared to the region’s real estate and REIT benchmarks tracked by GPR/APREA, which had risen 5.5% and 10.7,% respectively.

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Overview

Asia Pacific equities declined by close to 5% in July to surrender all its gains this year, weighed down by the Chinese government’s regulatory crackdown on the education, internet and property sectors. The tech heavy total return index, as tracked by MSCI, fell to its lowest since November last year.  While property related counters were not spared, it fared relatively better as the region’s REITs, with a more diverse geographical base, supported real estate indices. Risks were also firmly on the downside as the rapid rise in infections intensified in the region, clouding the prospects of an economic recovery. The Fed’s decision to maintain interest rates at near zero was largely priced in but the lack of any clear conviction to taper its bond purchases propped up markets, indicating that a monthly pace of US$120 billion will be maintained until substantial further progress had been made on employment and inflation.

Listed Real Estate

The wider GPR/APREA Listed Real Estate tumbled in July, as double-digit declines notched by regional heavyweight, China, proved too much of a drag. Hong Kong stocks were not spared. Support from the region’s other major markets of Australia and Japan were scant this time round as the resurgence of infections in the region hit sentiment.

India’s stocks, however, bucked the regional trend to rise by over 8%. A steady dip in Covid-19 cases rising vaccination rates and relaxation of curbs boosted sentiment on Indian stocks. The pandemic, which have underscored the importance of homes amid the remote working trend, leading to a rise in the demand for apartments, as buyers hunted for upgrades. Favourable regulations, such as RERA and the Model Tenancy Act, and the lowest home loan interest rates in years as well as stamp duty reductions in certain states also fueled a rally for the country’s realty stocks.

REITs

Asia Pacific REITs rose in July, with the GPR/APREA Composite REIT Index building on its rally to record a ninth consecutive monthly rise; the benchmark rose above its January peak last year for the second month running. As expected, the resurgence in infections has boosted the Industrial sector to register another strong month while Retail made up the negative end of the spectrum. Regionally, industrial and logistics REITs are outperformers as investors continue to pursue a flight-to-safety trend.

Across markets, gains were registered by most of the regional heavyweights, with Singapore leading the pack. Rapidly increasing vaccinations rates on the island have provided visibility to the government’s plans to gradually open its economy. However, Australian REITs declined as the renewed lockdown in several cities snapped a four-month winning streak for the country.

Meanwhile, Filinvest REIT Corp is set to become the third REIT to list in the Philippines, having set the final subscription price for its IPO at PHP7.00 per share. The stock is slated to debut on the Philippine Stock Exchange by mid-August. The region continues to boast an impressive pipeline of potential REIT listings, with 8-10 expected for the rest of the year.

Outlook

As base effects wane, rising caseloads across several countries in the Asia Pacific have dimmed the outlook for the regional economy. However, REITs have continued to remain resilient, backstopped by the Industrial sector as well as markets that have progressively clocked higher vaccination rates which will make the easing of restrictions more tenable. With long-dated treasury yields at their lowest since February, markets are now more inclined to believe that the specter of surging inflation will be less likely for now. The state of play has clearly shifted to policy risks in China as well as the threat from the fast-moving Delta variant. With central banks and the Fed likely to stick with its easy monetary policies due to a choppy recovery, there will invariably be sustained interest in dividend-rich stocks. As long as the pandemic continues to linger, investors will also continue to seek out the structural plays of the industrial and logistics sectors.

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