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CBRE’s latest leasing market sentiment index reveals that leasing sentiment in most major Asia Pacific markets cooled but stayed in positive territory:

• The lower level of tenant enquiries and site visits was mainly contributed by the mainland China office sector. Other markets, particularly India and Japan, continue to record robust enquiries from the retail sector.
• While expansionary retail demand is supporting market activity, office space demand has softened since the previous survey. Demand for flexible office space weakened, especially in Australia and Southeast Asian markets.
• Following the trend witnessed in the previous quarter, half of respondents anticipate rents and incentives to remain unchanged. Respondents in Japan held the most positive views regarding the office and retail rental outlook, while those in Greater China expected further declines in office rents.
• Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR remain laggards in leasing sentiment, with around 40% of respondents in the former currently engaged in “stay vs go” analysis or renewal exercises, indicating low intentions to expand.

Please find below the rebalancing results (effective 24 June 2024 start of trading) for the:

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

With the Asia Pacific commercial real estate market sitting at the top of the interest rate hike cycle, attention continues to focus upon the sizable volume of outstanding senior loans due to mature; a situation which could lead to a substantial funding gap in the coming years.

CBRE estimates that there is US$257 billion of outstanding senior commercial real estate debt in Asia Pacific, leading to a projected funding gap of US$8.4 billion between 2024-2026.

CBRE expects a funding gap to arise in markets where there is still some degree of capital value decline expected over the next three years. By total volume, Australia will have the biggest funding gap (US$4.6 bln) between 2024-26, followed by mainland China (US$2.9 bln).

The gap will be highly concentrated in the office sector, with CBRE expecting some further repricing over the remainder of 2024.

This report explores the commercial real estate debt market in Asia Pacific and the factors underpinning the debt funding gap in the region, including the markets and sectors that are likely to face the biggest gap, and implications for investors.

This report was originally published in https://www.cbre.com/insights/reports/the-debt-funding-gap-for-asia-pacific-real-estate/

This report, published in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, highlights the pivotal role of cities in leading the global fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Coordinated city action for nature is not only vital to achieving the goals set by the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), but also strategically necessary given the climate-, health- and infrastructure-related urban challenges arising from existing unbalanced relationships with nature and the biosphere.

This report was originally published in https://www.weforum.org/publications/nature-positive-cities-guidelines-for-rehabilitating-nature-in-the-urban-era/