美房地产市场 出现复苏迹象

Source : 《联合早报》March 19, 2009

（华盛顿路透电）一些最新数据显示，美国经济正显现令人鼓舞的生命迹象。房地产市场开始出现新工程和复工，消费者开始重新踏进购物商场，制造业者开始清空库存。

周二公布的数据显示，2月份的房屋工程开工量和建筑许可证数量都回弹，开工量暴增22.2%，是去年4月抵押贷款市场引发金融危机以来的首个增长。

犹他州奥勒姆市某建筑工地的木工正在为兴建中的房子安装地板。（彭博社）

分析师认为，虽然目前不应对经济复苏作出任何仓促预测，但也认为房地产市场出现稳定迹象。瑞士再保险公司的美国首席经济师卡尔说：“这些数字仍然糟糕，但方向是好的。”

上个星期，零售业指数显示，消费者开始购买基本消费品以外的货品，例如电子产品和家具。

商家开始清空库存

在去年底因为消费暴跌而大受影响的商家，今年初也开始积极清空库存。如果消费回弹能够持续，制造业者不久后就须要提高生产。

美联银行国际经济师布莱森说：“一些惊吓已经消失，就算消费者信心不是都很高，但惊吓已经消失。”

投资者感受到最糟糕的情况可能已经过去，所以开始投资一些遭受严重打击的领域，包括零售业和建筑业。标准普尔零售指数周二上升了3%，自本月6日的谷底以来，已累计上升了18%。道琼斯住宅建筑指数也在同期上升了25%。

美国联邦储备局主席伯南克日前在电视节目上表示，美国经济复苏的“幼苗”已经出现，他有信心经济将在今年结束衰退，明年走上复苏之路。

经济师：非复苏 是衰退开始放缓

然而，有经济学家认为，这些迹象并非显示经济开始复苏，只是显示经济下滑的速度开始减缓。经济恢复增长仍有数月之遥，也还不足以创造就业机会。这意味着失业率仍会继续上升，仍会有很多人无法按时偿还贷款，银行仍然面对压力。

纽约巴克莱银行经济师哈里斯说：“我不认为这是复苏的开始，这只是衰退放缓的开始。你必须先学会走路，才能学跑。”

经济学家也认为，华盛顿的政策有望在今年内让这些暂时性经济复苏现象转化成经济增长，但政策实行过失也可能对复苏造成威胁。

政府官员至今仍无法让投资者者和选民相信，他们已掌控了金融动荡和正在迅速处理危机当中。华尔街股市在最近几周的跌宕起伏，是投资者对政府动作的信心写照，而不是对经济前景的信心。

广州新电视塔塔顶 将建世界最高摩天轮

Source : 《联合早报》March 18, 2009

（广州讯）广州新电视塔塔顶将建世界最高的摩天轮，并在明年中国国庆节（10月1日）前投入使用。

与一般竖立的摩天轮不同，广州新电视塔摩天轮的16个水晶观光球舱，不是悬挂在轨道上，而是沿着倾斜的轨道运转。

《广州日报》报道，与一般竖立的摩天轮不同，广州新电视塔摩天轮的16个水晶观光球舱，不是悬挂在轨道上，而是沿着倾斜的轨道运转。游客的登舱平台将分设上、下客区，边缘将设置可随球舱移动的1.2米高安全移门，以确保游客游览的有序和安全。

每个观光球舱直径3.2米，可容纳多达六名乘客；球舱壳体采用新型高分子材料，晶莹剔透，让舱内游客对塔外景色一览无余。

400多米高的摩天轮，如何保障它的安全？由于椭圆轨道平面与水平面成15度，为使略微倾斜的球舱在运转过程中保持平稳，有关部门为球舱装上了“调平机构”，通过机械和结构的组合，让球舱水平度实时调整；16个球舱之间通过柔性索连接成环，在动力车的推动下作同步运转。

据悉，定位和抗倾侧装置将保证在八级地震、12级台风下系统依旧“安然无恙”。

摩天轮每20分钟至40分钟转一圈。

广州新电视塔建设公司负责人表示，“观光球舱围绕天线‘公转’一周为20分钟至40分钟，游客能够从各个角度观赏广州市容”。由于“站”在450米的广州新电视塔之上，它将是世界上最高的摩天轮。

据介绍，该设计方案将在4月完成审查，11月开始安装，明年2月完成安装，8月完成调试验收，在明年国庆节前有望投入使用。而原计划的“速降吊篮”项目已在洽谈之中。

摩天轮的中央控制室和管理室，采用大面积透明围护材料，工作人员在操作的过程中可对露天平台和登舱平台情况一目了然。

为了预防雷电，新电视塔的外筒各钢柱顶端沿轨道法线方向装有3.5米长防侧击雷避雷针，顶部桅杆也将装上避雷针。

广州新电视塔总高度（包括塔尖）达580米至600米之间。

Third Costliest In Office Rental

Source : The Straits Times, March 18, 2009

OFFICE rents here fell by 22 per cent last year, but Singapore is still the Asia-Pacific's third costliest city for business tenants, according to Colliers International's latest review. Hong Kong and Tokyo were No. 1 and No. 2 respectively.

The global office real estate review tracked office costs in 172 cities worldwide for the first and second halves of last year. It found that Singapore's office occupancy costs, defined as the annual average gross rents of central business district Grade A office space, fell from US$125.06 psf (S$191.17) in the first half of last year to US$97.07 psf in the second half.

Across the Asia-Pacific, 16 other cities also registered declining rents. Nine of the 20 cities surveyed saw rents plummet more than 20 per cent during the year. Beijing and Taipei were the only two cities in which rents rose.

Despite remaining third costliest in the region, Singapore's office occupancy costs were 45 per cent cheaper than those of Hong Kong's at the end of last year, up from last June's 41 per cent, and 24 per cent cheaper than Tokyo's as compared to just 3 per cent last June, said Ms Tay Huey Ying, director of research and advisory at Colliers International.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.

Villa Sold For US$30m

Source : The Straits Times, March 18, 2009

SHANGHAI - A SHANGHAI villa has sold for 205 million yuan, or US$30 million (S$45.9 million), in the most costly residential real estate deal yet for mainland China, the property's developer said on Wednesday.

Shimao said the 205 million yuan deal was the costliest so far for a mainland Chinese residential unit. --PHOTO: Shanghai Shimao Sheshan Villas

But despite the stunning size of the transaction, the outlook for the market remains murky, those working in the industry say.

Shimao Property Holdings would not disclose any details about the identity of the buyer of the fully furnished, 4,000 square metre villa in its Shanghai Shimao Sheshan Villas development.

Jing Furong, a staffer in Shimao's investor relations department, confirmed the deal but would not comment on a report on Wednesday in the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post saying the buyer was not a mainland Chinese passport holder.

Another villa at Shimao Sheshan, a scenic area in Shanghai's western suburbs, sold for 155 million yuan, the company said.

Shanghai Shimao's shares jumped by the daily 10 per cent limit on Wednesday following the news to 10.38 yuan.

Shimao said the 205 million yuan deal was the costliest so far for a mainland Chinese residential unit. But at 51,000 yuan, or US$7,500, per square metre, it was less expensive than homes in downtown Shanghai's Tomson Riviera, a luxury complex where a smaller, but still spacious, apartment sold earlier for 130,000 yuan, or more than US$19,000, per square meter.

Although the villa's price is astronomical by Chinese standards, it's way below the most expensive in the world. The most expensive market, according to Global Property Guide's 2009 list, is Monte Carlo, averaging US$45,000 per square meter.

Prices for prime properties in Shanghai, Beijing and several other big Chinese cities are beyond the reach of most Chinese families, though. And despite a recent uptick in transactions in some cities, many in the industry are forecasting bleaker months ahead. -- AP

UK March House Prices Down 9%

Source : The Business Times, March 17, 2009

(LONDON) Asking prices for houses in England and Wales were 9 per cent lower than a year ago this month, slightly less than February's record 9.1 per cent annual drop, property website Rightmove said yesterday.

Average asking prices rose by 0.9 per cent in March, less than the usual increase for the time of year, and new listings were 57 per cent lower than last year at 79,000, Rightmove said.

'Traditional spring impetus (is) limited as . . . lending remains restricted as banks are only now facing up to declaration of toxic debt,' the survey said.

Rightmove said there seemed to be buyer interest in properties priced at around 25 per cent below peak levels, and that sellers who initially overpriced their homes risked heavier losses later.

'Rightmove advised sellers in March last year to 'get smart' and price sensibly rather than chase prices down in a deteriorating market. Those that acted smartly may well have sold at half the discount that those who over-priced are now facing,' said the website's commercial director, Miles Shipside.

The average property asking price in March was £218,081, compared with £216,163 in February.

February data from mortgage lenders Halifax and Nationwide showed that house prices have fallen around 20 per cent from their peak in late 2007. - Reuters