SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

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Equity Bottom-Up

Frasers Hospitality Trust / Equity Bottom-Up

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 <div class='content-caption'>Hospitality S-REITs with Singapore assets</div>
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<html><body>Twenty three S-Reits and property trusts have reported financial results or business updates this reporting season. All pure-play hospitality Reits with Singapore assets have reported, and they are: Ascott Residence Trust, CDL Hospitality Trusts, Far East Hospitality Trust, and Frasers Hospitality Trust. These 4 averaged 23.4 per cent total returns in the year to date. 
Most of the hospitality trusts with Singapore assets reported higher RevPAR (revenue per available room) in Q1 2022, due to growth in average daily rates (ADR) and occupancy. The trusts also expressed optimism for 2022 as they see recovery and reopening across their operating markets. 
Ascott Residence Trust noted that several countries saw restrictions tighten in January and February this year while most started to substantially ease border controls towards the end of Q1 2022. It reported a 22 per cent year-on-year increase in portfolio RevPAU (revenue per available unit) from S$55 to S$67 despite the spread of the Omicron variant. 
Its longer-stay properties contributed about 28 per cent of Q1 2022 gross profit, up from around 12 per cent in Q1 2021. As more countries reopen borders, the trust noted an uptick in international corporate and leisure bookings. Three of its properties (2 in Singapore, 1 in Australia) also transited from block bookings to welcoming public guests, in line with the respective countries’ reopening plans. In Singapore, its lyf one-north, which obtained TOP in January 2022, also achieved strong occupancy of over 85 per cent in Q1 2022. 
CDL Hospitality Trusts recorded RevPAR growth across majority of its portfolio. In Singapore, its Q1 2022 RevPAR rose 40.7 per cent year on year, driven by growth in average room rate. It noted that market demand is recovering, with staycations and corporate project groups still comprising the bulk of demand. Two of its Singapore hotels continue to operate as facilities used for isolation purposes and these contracts are expected to end by Q3 2022. The other 4 Singapore hotels are expected to be supported primarily by the return of international travellers, staycations, long-stay project groups, as well as the return of meeting groups, including major MICE events. 
Far East Hospitality Trust’s hotel portfolio reported 15.7 per cent higher RevPAR of S$59 in Q1 2022 from S$51 in Q1 2021 and 31.8 per cent higher ADR, despite a 8.4pp dip in average occupancy rate to 67.7 per cent due to the cessation of the government contract for isolation purposes at 3 of its hotels. 
Its serviced residences continued to demonstrate strong performance, recording higher Q1 2022 occupancy rate of 86.8 per cent, a 7.5 per cent year-on-year rise in ADR, and 24.3 per cent increase in RevPAU with support from long-stay corporate sources. 
Frasers Hospitality Trust reported higher gross revenue by 10.4 per cent year on year in H1 FY22 with the improved operating environment. Its Singapore portfolio recorded higher ADR and occupancy rate, which lifted its RevPAR by 15.3 per cent year on year in H1 FY22, mainly supported by long-stay business. The trust remains optimistic about international travel and aims to capture the recovery of hotel demand. REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/hospitality-s-reits-see-higher-revpar-as-borders-reopen"> read </a>the original version.</body></html>


      
    
    Hospitality S-REITs with Singapore assets

Twenty three S-Reits and property trusts have reported financial results or business updates this reporting season. All pure-play hospitality Reits with Singapore assets have reported, and they are: Ascott Residence Trust, CDL Hospitality Trusts, Far East Hospitality Trust, and Frasers Hospitality Trust. These 4 averaged 23.4 per cent total returns in the year to date.  
Most of the hospitality trusts with Singapore assets reported higher RevPAR (revenue per available room) in Q1 2022, due to growth in average daily rates (ADR) and occupancy. The trusts also expressed optimism for 2022 as they see recovery and reopening across their operating markets.  
Ascott Residence Trust noted that several countries saw restrictions tighten in January and February this year while most started to substantially ease border controls towards the end of Q1 2022. It reported a 22 per cent year-on-year increase in portfolio RevPAU (revenue per available unit) from S$55 to S$67 despite the spread of the Omicron variant.  
Its longer-stay properties contributed about 28 per cent of Q1 2022 gross profit, up from around 12 per cent in Q1 2021. As more countries reopen borders, the trust noted an uptick in international corporate and leisure bookings. Three of its properties (2 in Singapore, 1 in Australia) also transited from block bookings to welcoming public guests, in line with the respective countries’ reopening plans. In Singapore, its lyf one-north, which obtained TOP in January 2022, also achieved strong occupancy of over 85 per cent in Q1 2022.  
CDL Hospitality Trusts recorded RevPAR growth across majority of its portfolio. In Singapore, its Q1 2022 RevPAR rose 40.7 per cent year on year, driven by growth in average room rate. It noted that market demand is recovering, with staycations and corporate project groups still comprising the bulk of demand. Two of its Singapore hotels continue to operate as facilities used for isolation purposes and these contracts are expected to end by Q3 2022. The other 4 Singapore hotels are expected to be supported primarily by the return of international travellers, staycations, long-stay project groups, as well as the return of meeting groups, including major MICE events.  
Far East Hospitality Trust’s hotel portfolio reported 15.7 per cent higher RevPAR of S$59 in Q1 2022 from S$51 in Q1 2021 and 31.8 per cent higher ADR, despite a 8.4pp dip in average occupancy rate to 67.7 per cent due to the cessation of the government contract for isolation purposes at 3 of its hotels.  
Its serviced residences continued to demonstrate strong performance, recording higher Q1 2022 occupancy rate of 86.8 per cent, a 7.5 per cent year-on-year rise in ADR, and 24.3 per cent increase in RevPAU with support from long-stay corporate sources.  
Frasers Hospitality Trust reported higher gross revenue by 10.4 per cent year on year in H1 FY22 with the improved operating environment. Its Singapore portfolio recorded higher ADR and occupancy rate, which lifted its RevPAR by 15.3 per cent year on year in H1 FY22, mainly supported by long-stay business. The trust remains optimistic about international travel and aims to capture the recovery of hotel demand.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.


REIT Watch - Hospitality S-Reits see higher RevPAR as borders reopen

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<html><body>Singapore's Central Business District (CBD) saw Grade A office rents record the fastest quarterly growth since rents turned around in Q2 2021, according to JLL Singapore in a recent report. 
Grade A office rents in the CBD rose 2.3 per cent to S$10.46 per square foot (psf) per month (pm) in the latest quarter, up from Q4 2021's S$10.23. Rental rates have recovered by 6.9 per cent from its recent lows in Q1 2021. 
Office Reits may also be poised to benefit from a growth in demand for office space as up to 75 per cent of office workers are allowed to return to their workplaces, even as hybrid working continues. 
Listed on SGX are 5 S-Reits with Singapore office properties in their portfolios. They are, Keppel Reit which is a pure-play office S-Reit, and diversified S-Reits CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), Suntec Reit, Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT), and OUE Commercial Reit (OUE C-Reit). Keppel Reit in FY21 had a tenant retention rate of 62 per cent and noted that a majority of new and expansion leases were in Singapore. 
Its weighted average signing rent for Singapore office leases was approximately S$10.56 psf pm. 
Building valuations for Marina Bay Financial Centre Towers 1 &amp; 2, One Raffles Quay and Keppel Bay Tower increased due to higher rental rates. 
OUE C-Reit which has a portfolio of 3 office properties in Singapore's CBD noted in its FY21 results that average passing rents of Singapore office properties at Dec 2021 were higher year on year, with OUE Bayfront hitting a high of S$12.49 psf due to the successful renewal of an anchor tenant. The Reit expects positive leasing momentum to continue in 2022, supported by the technology sector amid a limited supply pipeline. 
CICT recently announced its proposed acquisition of 70 per cent interest in 79 Robinson Road which has a building occupancy rate of 92.9 per cent. The acquisition is expected to offer pro forma annualised net property income yield of 4 per cent, distribution per unit accretion of 2.9 per cent, and is expected to complete in Q2 2022. 
Across the broader S-Reits sector, S-Reits demonstrated resiliency amid the backdrop of rising inflation and a rate hike cycle with the iEdge S-Reit Index posting 1.3 per cent total returns in Q1 2022, outperforming the average decline of 4.9 per cent across global Reit hubs. 
Despite rising interest rates, S-Reits have an average distribution yield of 6.3 per cent, around 400 bps spread over Singapore's 10-year government bond yields. The sector has an average gearing ratio of about 37 per cent (current regulatory ceiling is 50 per cent) and has an average 75 per cent of their borrowings pegged at fixed rates (entered directly in fixed rates or hedged through floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps). 
The top 5 performing S-Reits and property trusts in Q1 2022 averaged 14.1 per cent total returns, outperforming STI's 9.6 per cent, and are mainly from the hospitality and office sub-segments. They are: Suntec Reit (+17.6 per cent), Frasers Hospitality Trust (+15.1 per cent), Far East Hospitality Trust (+13.1 per cent), CDL Hospitality Trusts (+13.0 per cent), and Ascott Residence Trust (+11.5 per cent). 
Drivers that potentially drove the sub-segments were the continued reopening theme and relaxation of Covid measures across Singapore and the region, as well as the positive momentum in office rental rates.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/singapore-office-s-reits-poised-to-benefit-from-positive-rental-momentum-0"> read </a>the original version.</body></html>


      
    
    SREIT asset

Singapore's Central Business District (CBD) saw Grade A office rents record the fastest quarterly growth since rents turned around in Q2 2021, according to JLL Singapore in a recent report.  
Grade A office rents in the CBD rose 2.3 per cent to S$10.46 per square foot (psf) per month (pm) in the latest quarter, up from Q4 2021's S$10.23. Rental rates have recovered by 6.9 per cent from its recent lows in Q1 2021.  
Office Reits may also be poised to benefit from a growth in demand for office space as up to 75 per cent of office workers are allowed to return to their workplaces, even as hybrid working continues.  
Listed on SGX are 5 S-Reits with Singapore office properties in their portfolios. They are, Keppel Reit which is a pure-play office S-Reit, and diversified S-Reits CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), Suntec Reit, Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT), and OUE Commercial Reit (OUE C-Reit). Keppel Reit in FY21 had a tenant retention rate of 62 per cent and noted that a majority of new and expansion leases were in Singapore.  
Its weighted average signing rent for Singapore office leases was approximately S$10.56 psf pm.  
Building valuations for Marina Bay Financial Centre Towers 1 &amp; 2, One Raffles Quay and Keppel Bay Tower increased due to higher rental rates.  
OUE C-Reit which has a portfolio of 3 office properties in Singapore's CBD noted in its FY21 results that average passing rents of Singapore office properties at Dec 2021 were higher year on year, with OUE Bayfront hitting a high of S$12.49 psf due to the successful renewal of an anchor tenant. The Reit expects positive leasing momentum to continue in 2022, supported by the technology sector amid a limited supply pipeline.  
CICT recently announced its proposed acquisition of 70 per cent interest in 79 Robinson Road which has a building occupancy rate of 92.9 per cent. The acquisition is expected to offer pro forma annualised net property income yield of 4 per cent, distribution per unit accretion of 2.9 per cent, and is expected to complete in Q2 2022.  
Across the broader S-Reits sector, S-Reits demonstrated resiliency amid the backdrop of rising inflation and a rate hike cycle with the iEdge S-Reit Index posting 1.3 per cent total returns in Q1 2022, outperforming the average decline of 4.9 per cent across global Reit hubs.  
Despite rising interest rates, S-Reits have an average distribution yield of 6.3 per cent, around 400 bps spread over Singapore's 10-year government bond yields. The sector has an average gearing ratio of about 37 per cent (current regulatory ceiling is 50 per cent) and has an average 75 per cent of their borrowings pegged at fixed rates (entered directly in fixed rates or hedged through floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps).  
The top 5 performing S-Reits and property trusts in Q1 2022 averaged 14.1 per cent total returns, outperforming STI's 9.6 per cent, and are mainly from the hospitality and office sub-segments. They are: Suntec Reit (+17.6 per cent), Frasers Hospitality Trust (+15.1 per cent), Far East Hospitality Trust (+13.1 per cent), CDL Hospitality Trusts (+13.0 per cent), and Ascott Residence Trust (+11.5 per cent).  
Drivers that potentially drove the sub-segments were the continued reopening theme and relaxation of Covid measures across Singapore and the region, as well as the positive momentum in office rental rates.   REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.


REIT Watch - Singapore office S-Reits poised to benefit from positive rental momentum

Far East Hospitality Trust / Equity Bottom-Up

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 <div class='content-caption'>Top 10 performing SREITs</div>
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Singapore announced the easing of Covid-19 measures on March 24 as the country takes a "decisive but measured step forward" towards living with Covid-19.

With the risk of outdoor transmission significantly lower, it will soon be optional to wear masks outdoors in Singapore while the maximum group size for social gatherings as well as dining in will double from 5 to 10. Certain large-scale social gatherings are also permitted to resume.

Office spaces are expected to be filled up again, as up to 75 per cent of those who can work from home are now allowed to return to their workplaces, up from 50 per cent previously. 
Cross-border travel is also expected to ease substantially from Apr 1, as travellers no longer have to take designated vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) to enter Singapore quarantine-free. 
Such moves will help to "reconnect Singapore with the world" and "give a much-needed boost to businesses, particularly the tourism sector, and help Singapore reclaim its position as a business and aviation hub" said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his speech. 
Following the announcement, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 1.1 per cent during Thursday's (Mar 24) trading session, driven by a rally in aviation, transport, tourism and retail-related stocks. 
Similarly, S-Reits recorded gains, with the iEdge S-Reit Index increasing 1 per cent in the trading session, led by trusts with significant exposure to Singapore related retail, hospitality, and office assets.

Hospitality S-Reits gained 3.5 per cent while retail S-Reits gained 1.5 per cent. More notably, hospitality and retail S-Reits saw a surge in trading activities on Thursday with S$27.4 million and S$21.4 million in traded value respectively.

This represents over 211 per cent and 58 per cent increases respectively, against their 3-month average daily traded value. 
Diversified S-REITs also gained an average of 1.8 per cent over Thursday, led by trusts (Lendlease Global Commercial REIT, OUE Commercial REIT and Suntec REIT) with substantial exposure to the retail and office segments in Singapore. 
Lendlease Global Commercial Reit (LReit), which owns prime retail properties in Singapore and grade-A office buildings in Milan, was the top performer for the day with over 7 per cent gains. 
In February, LReit proposed to acquire the remaining interest in JEM mall for close to S$2 billion. 
LReit expects the acquisition to further boost the Reit's portfolio income diversification and provide approximately 10.5 per cent distribution per unit (DPU) accretion upon completion. 
Post-acquisition, LReit's exposure to the resilient suburban retail sector is expected to increase from 16.3 per cent to 46.8 per cent and its Singapore-centric asset base to be close to 88 per cent of its total portfolio value. 
CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT), which owns hotel properties across Asia Pacific and Europe, rose 6 per cent over the trading day following the announcement of easing travel restrictions. 
CDLHT's Singapore portfolio (approximately 64.9 per cent by total portfolio valuation) continued to be impacted by the absence of major meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events, large wedding banquets and social functions in FY 2021.

The trust remains optimistic in Singapore's commitment to reopening and returning to normalcy. REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/green-shoots-for-retail-and-hospitality-s-reits-amid-new-pandemic-phase"> </a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/retail-hotel-office-s-reits-gain-with-relaxed-covid-rules-0">read</a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/pure-play-china-s-reits-record-strong-2021-growth-0"> </a>the original version.
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    Top 10 performing SREITs


Singapore announced the easing of Covid-19 measures on March 24 as the country takes a "decisive but measured step forward" towards living with Covid-19.

With the risk of outdoor transmission significantly lower, it will soon be optional to wear masks outdoors in Singapore while the maximum group size for social gatherings as well as dining in will double from 5 to 10. Certain large-scale social gatherings are also permitted to resume.

Office spaces are expected to be filled up again, as up to 75 per cent of those who can work from home are now allowed to return to their workplaces, up from 50 per cent previously.  
Cross-border travel is also expected to ease substantially from Apr 1, as travellers no longer have to take designated vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) to enter Singapore quarantine-free.  
Such moves will help to "reconnect Singapore with the world" and "give a much-needed boost to businesses, particularly the tourism sector, and help Singapore reclaim its position as a business and aviation hub" said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his speech.  
Following the announcement, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 1.1 per cent during Thursday's (Mar 24) trading session, driven by a rally in aviation, transport, tourism and retail-related stocks.  
Similarly, S-Reits recorded gains, with the iEdge S-Reit Index increasing 1 per cent in the trading session, led by trusts with significant exposure to Singapore related retail, hospitality, and office assets.

Hospitality S-Reits gained 3.5 per cent while retail S-Reits gained 1.5 per cent. More notably, hospitality and retail S-Reits saw a surge in trading activities on Thursday with S$27.4 million and S$21.4 million in traded value respectively.

This represents over 211 per cent and 58 per cent increases respectively, against their 3-month average daily traded value.  
Diversified S-REITs also gained an average of 1.8 per cent over Thursday, led by trusts (Lendlease Global Commercial REIT, OUE Commercial REIT and Suntec REIT) with substantial exposure to the retail and office segments in Singapore.  
Lendlease Global Commercial Reit (LReit), which owns prime retail properties in Singapore and grade-A office buildings in Milan, was the top performer for the day with over 7 per cent gains.  
In February, LReit proposed to acquire the remaining interest in JEM mall for close to S$2 billion.  
LReit expects the acquisition to further boost the Reit's portfolio income diversification and provide approximately 10.5 per cent distribution per unit (DPU) accretion upon completion.  
Post-acquisition, LReit's exposure to the resilient suburban retail sector is expected to increase from 16.3 per cent to 46.8 per cent and its Singapore-centric asset base to be close to 88 per cent of its total portfolio value.  
CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT), which owns hotel properties across Asia Pacific and Europe, rose 6 per cent over the trading day following the announcement of easing travel restrictions.  
CDLHT's Singapore portfolio (approximately 64.9 per cent by total portfolio valuation) continued to be impacted by the absence of major meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events, large wedding banquets and social functions in FY 2021.

The trust remains optimistic in Singapore's commitment to reopening and returning to normalcy.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.



REIT Watch - Retail, hotel, office S-Reits gain with relaxed Covid rules

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<div class="content-caption">Insti investors continue to net buy sreits</div>

The iEdge S-Reit Index recovered 2.5 per cent in total returns over the past 5 sessions (Feb 25, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022), after a 2 per cent decline seen last Thursday (Feb 24) as global markets saw major moves amid the market volatility.
Despite the dip, the iEdge S-Reit Index has returned 0.6 per cent in total returns for the whole period from Feb 24, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022.
This means it outperformed the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index which declined 0.7 per cent during the same period. Within the S-Reit sub-sectors, gainers were led by the specialised, healthcare and office Reits while decliners were led by hospitality, retail and diversified Reits.
During the period, institutional investors have been a key driver in S-Reits' fund flow activities, accumulating net institutional inflows of S$30.4 million.
Retail investors on the other hand, net sold S$42.6 million for the sector. In terms of sub-sectors, institutional flows were driven by inflows seen in diversified S-Reits (+S$16.7 million), specialised/data centre S-Reits (+S$6.9 million), and office S-Reits (+S$6.7 million).
The largest retail outflows were seen in diversified S-Reits (-S$22.8 million), office S-Reits (-S$6.6 million), and industrial S-Reits (-S$5.5 million).
On a year-to-date basis, S-Reits have seen a 2 per cent decline, against the Straits Times Index's 4.4 per cent total returns, while the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index has seen a decline of 2.3 per cent.
Interest rates continue to be a key focus for the sector, as expectations of a rate hike grow.
As the earnings season concludes for the sector, broad based distribution per unit growth and healthy occupancy rates remain a common theme. REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/green-shoots-for-retail-and-hospitality-s-reits-amid-new-pandemic-phase" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/institutional-investors-continue-to-net-buy-s-reits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read&nbsp;</a>the original version.


Insti investors continue to net buy sreits

The iEdge S-Reit Index recovered 2.5 per cent in total returns over the past 5 sessions (Feb 25, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022), after a 2 per cent decline seen last Thursday (Feb 24) as global markets saw major moves amid the market volatility.
Despite the dip, the iEdge S-Reit Index has returned 0.6 per cent in total returns for the whole period from Feb 24, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022.
This means it outperformed the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index which declined 0.7 per cent during the same period.  Within the S-Reit sub-sectors, gainers were led by the specialised, healthcare and office Reits while decliners were led by hospitality, retail and diversified Reits.
During the period, institutional investors have been a key driver in S-Reits' fund flow activities, accumulating net institutional inflows of S$30.4 million.
Retail investors on the other hand, net sold S$42.6 million for the sector.  In terms of sub-sectors, institutional flows were driven by inflows seen in diversified S-Reits (+S$16.7 million), specialised/data centre S-Reits (+S$6.9 million), and office S-Reits (+S$6.7 million).
The largest retail outflows were seen in diversified S-Reits (-S$22.8 million), office S-Reits (-S$6.6 million), and industrial S-Reits (-S$5.5 million).
On a year-to-date basis, S-Reits have seen a 2 per cent decline, against the Straits Times Index's 4.4 per cent total returns, while the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index has seen a decline of 2.3 per cent.
Interest rates continue to be a key focus for the sector, as expectations of a rate hike grow.
As the earnings season concludes for the sector, broad based distribution per unit growth and healthy occupancy rates remain a common theme.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,&nbsp;read&nbsp;the original version.

REIT Watch - Institutional Investors Continue to Net Buy S-Reits

CDL Hospitality Trusts / Equity Bottom-Up

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 <div class='content-caption'> Trusts with exposure to Retail and Hospitality related properties in Singapore</div>
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Singapore has announced simplified safe management measures as well as new vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) and increased VTL quotas as the country enters a new phase of dealing with the pandemic and is streamlining border measures.

Alongside the calibrated re-opening of borders and economy in the region, Asean countries with relaxed border controls saw international flight bookings increase significantly in Jan 2022. Countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand also saw return economy-class bookings from travellers in the United Kingdom, United States and Germany rise 19 per cent to 300 per cent month on month in January, according to data from Skyscanner. Skyscanner also expects airlines to announce new schedules and build capacity to facilitate the return of international travel at scale.

In Singapore, Changi Airport passenger movement data has also seen upticks over the past 3 months. More notably, passenger volumes in December 2021 grew over 120 per cent month on month, building on from the 55 per cent month-on-month increase seen in Nov 2021. Despite being just at 15.3 per cent of pre-Covid monthly levels of about 5.7 million (on average across 2017 to 2019), the implementation of VTLs locally have had a positive impact. 
As Singapore's border progressively re-opens and the country moves into a new phase of the pandemic, investors' focus may shift towards stocks which potentially benefit from increased international travel, and retail and consumer spending.

Listed on the SGX are 12 S-Reits and property trusts which have significant exposure to Singapore related retail and hospitality assets.

All 12 trusts generated positive returns in the February month to date, averaging 6 per cent total returns. 
In the month-to-date, the top 5 performing retail and hospitality related S-REITs averaged 9 per cent total returns (and 4.8 per cent average total returns on a year-to-date basis) and are CDL HT (10.7 per cent total returns), CICT (10 per cent), Far East HT (9 per cent), Suntec REIT (8.8 per cent) and Frasers HT (6.7 per cent). 
The 5 saw a combined institutional net buy of S$67.5 million in the year to date. 
Far East Hospitality Trust reported 28.8 per cent and 23.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter increases in revenue per available room/unit in their hotels and serviced residences respectively in Q42021, citing long-stay corporate sources and loosening of travel restrictions as providing a boost to the hospitality industry. 
Frasers Centrepoint Trust noted that its portfolio tenants' sales exceeded pre-Covid levels in Dec 2021 and shopper traffic recovered following the ease of Covid restrictions. 
Cessation of work from home (WFH) as the default mode from January 2022 is expected to gradually increase shopper traffic.

Suntec Reit reported higher occupancy rates for its retail properties and noted that tenant sales recovered faster than footfall and exceeded pre-Covid levels in December 2021.

Management expects recovery to be further driven by the return of office workers and easing of safe management measures extended to events. REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/green-shoots-for-retail-and-hospitality-s-reits-amid-new-pandemic-phase"> read </a>the original version.
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     Trusts with exposure to Retail and Hospitality related properties in Singapore


Singapore has announced simplified safe management measures as well as new vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) and increased VTL quotas as the country enters a new phase of dealing with the pandemic and is streamlining border measures.

Alongside the calibrated re-opening of borders and economy in the region, Asean countries with relaxed border controls saw international flight bookings increase significantly in Jan 2022. Countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand also saw return economy-class bookings from travellers in the United Kingdom, United States and Germany rise 19 per cent to 300 per cent month on month in January, according to data from Skyscanner. Skyscanner also expects airlines to announce new schedules and build capacity to facilitate the return of international travel at scale.

In Singapore, Changi Airport passenger movement data has also seen upticks over the past 3 months. More notably, passenger volumes in December 2021 grew over 120 per cent month on month, building on from the 55 per cent month-on-month increase seen in Nov 2021. Despite being just at 15.3 per cent of pre-Covid monthly levels of about 5.7 million (on average across 2017 to 2019), the implementation of VTLs locally have had a positive impact.  
As Singapore's border progressively re-opens and the country moves into a new phase of the pandemic, investors' focus may shift towards stocks which potentially benefit from increased international travel, and retail and consumer spending.

Listed on the SGX are 12 S-Reits and property trusts which have significant exposure to Singapore related retail and hospitality assets.

All 12 trusts generated positive returns in the February month to date, averaging 6 per cent total returns.  
In the month-to-date, the top 5 performing retail and hospitality related S-REITs averaged 9 per cent total returns (and 4.8 per cent average total returns on a year-to-date basis) and are CDL HT (10.7 per cent total returns), CICT (10 per cent), Far East HT (9 per cent), Suntec REIT (8.8 per cent) and Frasers HT (6.7 per cent).  
The 5 saw a combined institutional net buy of S$67.5 million in the year to date.  
Far East Hospitality Trust reported 28.8 per cent and 23.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter increases in revenue per available room/unit in their hotels and serviced residences respectively in Q42021, citing long-stay corporate sources and loosening of travel restrictions as providing a boost to the hospitality industry.  
Frasers Centrepoint Trust noted that its portfolio tenants' sales exceeded pre-Covid levels in Dec 2021 and shopper traffic recovered following the ease of Covid restrictions.  
Cessation of work from home (WFH) as the default mode from January 2022 is expected to gradually increase shopper traffic.

Suntec Reit reported higher occupancy rates for its retail properties and noted that tenant sales recovered faster than footfall and exceeded pre-Covid levels in December 2021.

Management expects recovery to be further driven by the return of office workers and easing of safe management measures extended to events.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.



REIT Watch - Green shoots for retail and hospitality S-Reits amid new pandemic phase

Singapore

CDL Hospitality Trusts is a stapled group compromising H-REIT and HBT. H-REIT is a real estate investment trust that invest in a portfolio of income-producing properties and HBT is a business trust.

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