Asia Pacific investment remains positive in Q1 2017

Asia Pacific’s overall investment turnover during the first quarter 2017 increased by 6.2 percent year-on-year as investor sentiment remained positive despite flat year-on-year deal growth, according to CBRE Research’s preliminary Q1 2017 MarketView figures.

“Across the region, investment performance was polarized in different markets. Singapore and Japan recorded strong investment activity,” said Dr. Henry Chin, head of research, CBRE Asia Pacific, in a statement. “More investors are looking to Singapore for countercyclical opportunities, and this quarter saw the completion of three major office deals by international investors. In Japan, there was more demand from investors seeking assets for higher yields in cities outside central Tokyo, with Yokohama as a hotspot this quarter.”

Elsewhere, quarterly investment turnover declined in Australia — attributed to the drop in transactions — and China, where deals were mainly below $250 million. Investors were looking at smaller deals within China, including decentralized offices in tier-one cities during the first quarter 2017.

Amid tighter controls on capital outflow, Chinese outbound investment slowed down with less big-ticket transactions. Some Chinese investors opted to engage in smaller deals. Outbound investment from Hong Kong and North America picked up. Several recently raised capital real estate funds deployed their capital in Japan, while two listed Hong Kong companies acquired office buildings in Singapore.

For the office sector, the upcoming completion of major new high-quality projects in China and Singapore, and the high incentives offered in Australia and Seoul, continued to support flight-to-quality and flight-to-value relocation among occupiers. Leasing activity was driven by the technology, media, and telecom sectors and domestic financial institutions.

In the region’s retail sector, overall leasing sentiment has improved; however, most retailers in Asia Pacific remain cautious, displaying stronger demand for more affordable opportunities. They are taking longer to negotiate leasing terms and conducting due diligence. In China, the luxury market recorded single-digit growth as more high-end consumption stayed within the country.

Other key highlights:

• Class A office rental growth in Tokyo is peaking, but continued growth in Sydney and Melbourne and a slower decline in Singapore ensured regional office rental growth remained steady at 0.6 percent q-o-q.

• Most office markets in Asia Pacific will favor tenants in 2017. In Hong Kong, the rental outlook for the Central district has been revised up amid resilient demand from Mainland China firms. It is possible for Singapore to return to some rental growth by the end of 2017 based on higher take-up in new projects.

• Overall retail rents rose by 0.6 percent q-o-q, driven by Tokyo and the slower rate of decline in Hong Kong.

• The food and beverage sector remained the key demand driver in retail, with home-grown independent brands more active. Other active sectors included lifestyle homeware, sports goods and entertainment clubs.

• Overall logistics rents barely increased by 0.2 percent q-o-q, supported by rental growth in tier-one cities in China and the Pacific region.

• In Seoul, the growth of the online fresh food industry is boosting demand for logistics space, whereas Singapore saw a pick-up of demand in the semiconductor space.