Real Estate

China developers’ survival fight gets litmus test

15 Nov 2024

Sunac has given investors four options for restructuring $2 bln of onshore bonds, including an 82% haircut and a debt-for-equity swap. How they vote will reveal their views on both the $3.1 bln firm’s chances of survival and Beijing’s attempts to end the property slump.

Murdoch leaves Rightmove little room for error

1 Oct 2024

The Australian tycoon’s REA Group walked away after four rejected bids for the UK property listings portal, prompting the latter’s shares to slump. Rightmove can get to the offer price if it grows revenue at 11% a year and keeps its 75% margin. But that’s not simple to do.

China plays perilous game of pump the stock market

30 Sep 2024

Shares in consumer and real-estate firms have jumped more than a fifth after the latest round of state support raised hopes of a broad recovery. The risk is that when policymakers in Beijing flesh out their plans, the details will fall short of what investors are expecting.

Hong Kong property tycoons enter brave new world

26 Sep 2024

Embattled developer New World may replace its CEO, the third-generation scion of the founding Cheng clan, amid a deepening real estate slump. Such a move is nearly unheard of in the city dominated by family-run conglomerates. It will put peers like Henderson Land on notice.

Murdoch’s UK property bid may yet get even sweeter

23 Sep 2024

Rightmove is mulling an improved $8.1 bln offer from Australia’s REA Group, owned by the media tycoon. A chunky premium and other UK refuseniks’ share price slumps are reasons for the listing portal’s board to say yes. But the buyer’s latest bid implies an ability to pay more.

India’s mortgage IPO builds on many riches

16 Sep 2024

Shares of Bajaj Housing surged 125% on their debut. That reflects faith in its $56 bln investor darling parent and robust demand for expensive homes. It also hints at deep scepticism among sellers about the sustainability of rich valuations in the country's equities market.

China mortgage cut is start of confidence rebuild

13 Sep 2024

Beijing may significantly lower rates on existing home loans, per Bloomberg. That might convince property owners that there are better alternatives than stepping up mortgage repayments. It is a step toward fixing a $1 trln headache for officials, and improving consumer sentiment.

Diaspora gives wings to India luxury housing boom

12 Sep 2024

New launches of pricey properties jumped 48% in financial year 2024. Real estate is hotting up as an investment choice, especially for non-resident Indians. Their purchases prop up growth in the world's fifth-largest economy. It's a new spin on the power of its global citizenry.

Murdoch’s UK property gambit has a price ceiling

2 Sep 2024

Australian property listings site REA Group is eyeing $6 bln UK peer Rightmove. The News Corp-backed suitor can use cash and higher-valued shares to pay a 30% premium. Beyond that, Rupert Murdoch’s outfit might struggle to combine a successful bid with keeping him in control.

UK’s housing mess requires costly fix

29 Aug 2024

PM Keir Starmer has pledged to build many more houses. Yet homebuilders’ shares are not pricing in a boom. Private players may prefer to sell fewer, pricier properties. More government funds would help, at the risk of further squeezing Britain’s finances.

China is fixing housing market with a long gaze

29 Aug 2024

Only 4% of a $42 bln lending scheme to help mop up excess inventory has been drawn upon since May. Other new policy shifts, such as ditching housing presales, could extend the property slump. Beijing is determined to remodel the sector, even if it requires more time and pain.

China’s big ball of money has nowhere else to go

23 Aug 2024

Beijing's warnings slowed a rush into government debt sparked by moribund stocks and falling home prices. With US rates set to fall, investing more abroad would be an option if it weren't for capital controls. Unless they're relaxed, the bond-buying frenzy is likely to restart.

Kamala Harris’ welcome housing boost is overdue

21 Aug 2024

The presidential candidate plans to cut red tape as part of a $40 bln construction blitz. It’s a nod to the supply-muting and price-stoking effects of regulation. The shift can stem shortages from Washington to Wisconsin – as long as it doesn’t kill homeowners’ golden goose.

China’s mounting bad debts have fewer places to go

7 Aug 2024

StanChart-backed Bohai Bank is selling $4 bln-worth of non-performing assets. It underscores the pressure lenders are under as property-linked loans sour. Yet distressed-asset managers like Cinda are feeling the strain too. Disposing banks' $470 bln bad debt pile will get harder.

Much of Blackstone’s success is out of its hands

19 Jul 2024

The $1 trln asset manager, which buys real estate and other assets with loads of debt, has always been vulnerable to rising rates. Now it is under pressure to deploy its mountain of cash. The die has been cast - the rest is up to the Fed.

Latest UK builder M&A may yet have completion date

14 Jun 2024

Crest Nicholson rejected bigger rival Bellway’s $828 mln all-share offer. While Crest’s new profit warning is a turnoff, falling returns mean housebuilder mergers generally make sense. Bellway may not need to offer much more to convince its target’s shareholders.

China banks walk narrow path past property crisis

14 Jun 2024

The country's lenders have $22 trln, or 38% of their assets, in real estate-linked loans. But bad debt disposals and low exposure to developers have protected balance sheets. The bigger headache now may be falling net interest margins. Beijing's latest property fix won't help.

UK building plans will fail to get off the ground

6 Jun 2024

Rivals in the July 4 election promise 300,000 new houses a year to ease shortages and lower prices. A lack of builders makes that unlikely. More than 346,000 construction jobs have disappeared since 2019. Without immigration or training, Britain will remain cramped and expensive.

PwC Evergrande hit will ricochet around China Inc

5 Jun 2024

The auditor may be fined $138 mln and suspended from working in some cities for its role in the property giant’s scandal. Rivals may benefit. But with President Xi pushing regulators to operate "with teeth and thorns”, such a decision will be a warning to all financial middlemen.

China property bailout stars align for Vanke

31 May 2024

The country's biggest homebuilder is close to borrowing up to $10 bln. That'd effectively eliminate default risk. Being part-owned by Shenzhen helps, as does having some decent assets to entice lenders. The clincher is Beijing's heightened will to put a floor under house prices.