Daily Briefing: GIC annual returns slipped to 3.4% from 3.7% in 2017; Airbnb hopes for ‘fair and progressive' policies on short-term stays in Singapore

And Hongkong Land yielded US$988.4m from investments properties in 2017.

From Reuters:

GIC’s annualised real return went down to 3.4% from 3.7% as its investments made during the early tech bubble years have been slipping out of the 20-year window.

“Of course, GIC is still investing. It has become a more visible presence in unlisted tech, for example in Chinese delivery-to-coupons giant Meituan Dianping when it raised cash in October at a $30 billion valuation, and more often alongside Temasek. The pre-IPO investments made have been largely modest in size, though.

Still, warnings of overstretched valuations and trade-related volatility were also heard from elsewhere. Even equity-focused Temasek, which reported a portfolio at a record S$308 billion ($226 billion) in part thanks to better performance from Singaporean banks like DBS, said it sees risks building and warned that it would pace its investment.”

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From iCompare Loan:

Airbnb believes that public consultations will aide the government to come up with “fair and progressive regulations” regarding short-term accommodations (STA) in private residences.

“Airbnb’s head of public policy for Southeast Asia had earlier said that “for us (Airbnb) we feel that every person should have the right to share their own private residence. We don’t think that anyone should be criminalised for sharing their home.”

Airbnb said in March that it has told Singapore’s government that, if asked, the company would not list HDB flats on its platform.

On average, each host in Singapore rents out their space for 37 nights a year, and earn approximately US$3,400 annually from the arrangement. This extra income allows the hosts to use it as supplementary income to help them pay bills and make ends meet.”

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From The Motley Fool:

Hongkong Land profited US$988.4m from investment properties in 2017 through stable rental income and consistent recurring income.

"It has a portfolio of 12 commercial buildings and this includes some of the most valuable real estate in the heart of the city, a region known as Central. It also includes properties that are considered Grade “A” commercial buildings. With limited land supply in Hong Kong city centre, rental income from its portfolio has steadily increased over the years at an impressive annual rate of 5.5% from US$8.52 in 2008 to US$13.82 in 2017.

Through its strong rental income growth, Hongkong Land has managed to pay higher dividends to shareholders over the years. The company’s dividend per share has increased from US$0.18 per share in FY2013 to US$0.20 per share in FY2017. That translates to an annualised growth of 2.1%. As of FY2017, the group had a dividend payout ratio of just 48%. This gives it additional headroom to grow its dividend in the future."

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