Author: Jordan

The recent decision by mainland developer Yuzhou Group to sell office space in Central at a substantial loss to repay debt underscores a new reality in Hong Kong’s commercial property market: banks are increasingly focused on controlling losses rather than delaying them.Yuzhou said this month it would sell six office units on the 58th floor of The Center for HK$268.8 million (US$34.3 million) and use the proceeds to reduce its debt, crystallising an estimated loss of HK$83 million.The disposal reflects a broader shift across the sector as lenders push borrowers to deleverage amid falling valuations and mounting refinancing pressure.For much…

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The sharp drop in Hormuz transits, from 26 vessels Saturday to just five Sunday, signals a fast-deteriorating risk picture even though the US military insists commercial traffic continues. Oil markets are likely to reprice supply risk higher given the strait’s role as the world’s most critical crude chokepoint, with VLCC movements of Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti and Iraqi crude directly exposed. The decision by ADNOC and Kuwait Petroleum to offer cargoes loadable from outside the strait points to producers already hedging against prolonged disruption, a signal traders will likely treat as more telling than rhetoric from either side. Expect elevated volatility…

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Property remains biggest borrowing driverAnalysts said housing continues to be one of the strongest areas of credit demand in the UAE, with more residents looking at property ownership as a long-term financial decision.Joha said there is growing interest in asset-backed borrowing, particularly for real estate purchases and wealth-building opportunities.Sandeep Jadwani, Head of Investment Advisory at H Capital Ltd., said borrowing patterns are shifting away from discretionary purchases towards more secured forms of credit.“UAE households are not deleveraging. They are becoming more selective,” he said. “Credit is still expanding, but demand is shifting away from discretionary autos and marginal borrowers toward…

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Every few months, it seems, another report emerges suggesting buy-to-let no longer stacks up as an investment proposition. The headlines are often dramatic, the conclusions definitive, and the message largely the same: investors would be better off putting their money elsewhere. Often, the argument comes from investment/stocks/shares platforms and/or managers who, surprise surprise, believe investors should be focusing on the markets they are active in. Who would have thought. Of course, everyone is entitled to their view, and there is no doubt the buy-to-let market has faced a series of significant challenges over recent years. Higher interest rates, tax changes,…

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Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed a breakthrough mechanism for safe vessel transit in the Strait of Hormuz following 18 hours of intensive talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, setting the stage for final agreement negotiations. According to statements from the Iranian Foreign Ministry carried by Tasnim news agency:A formal transit mechanism was successfully arranged to guarantee the safe passage of commercial vessels through the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.The framework was hammered out during an intense 18-hour session of high-level diplomatic talks held in Switzerland.Mediators Qatar and Pakistan will imminently issue a joint text outlining the general agreements reached during the…

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On this episode of The Long View, I chatted with Morningstar’s Brian Moriarty and Jack Shannon. Moriarty is a principal, fixed-income strategies, and Shannon is a principal, equity strategies, for Morningstar. We talked about private market funds, their risks and rewards, and due diligence. Mousetraps and wolves also entered the conversation.Listen to the Full EpisodeHere are a few excerpts from my conversation with Shannon and Moriarty, whose report on semiliquid funds published last week.Semiliquid Fund Fees Are High and Not Always StraightforwardBen Johnson: Curious, Jack, what you’re looking at with respect to fees in [the semiliquid fund] space, which always…

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Buy-to-let market update:  BM Solutions – has changed their lending policy by increasing the maximum age at the end of term for buy-to-let and let-to-buy customers from 80 years old to 99 years old. The maximum age at the point of application will remain the same where the eldest customer must submit the application before their 75th birthday. This new maximum age policy applies to Personal Named and Limited Company mortgages. The lender has also decreased selected buy-to-let and let-to-buy fixed rates by up to 0.29 per cent, rates start from 2.60 per cent, at the same time, they have…

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