近期零售商積極承租核心區鋪，中環皇后大道中一個地鋪，剛以每月40萬租出，平均呎租400元，租客為北京同仁堂，亦是兩地通關後，中環區內首錄中藥保健品進駐，租金則較疫市跌低約20%。

上述為中環皇后大道中47號地鋪，建築面積約1000方呎，多年來先後由Crocs鞋店、Body Shop承租，經歷樓市高低潮，近年一直由Body Shop短租，租金亦大減。隨着中港兩地全面通關，該地鋪頻錄準租客洽商，市場消息透露，近日剛租予北京同仁堂，月租40萬，平均呎租400元，較目前的短期租金升1倍，比較疫市前則低約20%。

平均呎租400元

該地鋪現址租客BODY SHOP，於2017年以每月50萬承租鋪位，隨後曾以55萬續租，近年來在疫市衝擊下，轉為短租，月租20萬，隨着鋪位落實長租，Body Shop將於短期內遷出。

資料顯示，該鋪位早年的租客則為Crocs鞋店，早於2011年每月50萬承租，最新租金重返2009年至2010年水平。

Dior每月50萬租雲咸街全幢

同區的雲咸街全幢物業，由國際品牌Dior以每月約50萬承租，上述為雲咸街52號地鋪至3樓，面積共約4550方呎，呎租約109元，新租客Dior將在此品牌旗下化妝品專門店。雲咸街該地段聚集藝廊，而該物業亦曾由藝廊以約78萬承租，新租金減約36%。

今年以來，中環頻錄大樓面租務，皇后大道中54至56號豐樂行多層鋪，涉及地下至3樓，面積共約8735方呎，由Swatch Group以每月約100萬租出，作為旗下名表Omega旗艦店。皇后大道中8號地下及1樓，合共約6000方呎，由藝廊以每月約100萬承租。

北京同仁堂以每月40萬，承租中環皇后大道一個地鋪，為兩地通關後，區內首錄中藥保健品進駐。

(星島日報)

更多豐樂行寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：豐樂行寫字樓出租

更多皇后大道中8號寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：皇后大道中8號寫字樓出租

更多中環區甲級寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：中環區甲級寫字樓出租

租金見調整 帶動巨舖租務轉活

日資品牌紛落戶核心區 無印良品50萬租皇室堡

租金調整後，大樓面舖位租務轉趨活躍，特別日資品牌趁機擴充，銅鑼灣皇室堡地庫1.5萬平方呎樓面，原由時裝等租用，現獲無印良品承租，月租估計約50萬元。另GU時裝早前透露銅鑼灣及旺角開分店，包括：希慎廣場約6,000呎舖，月租料約50萬元。業界認為租金調整後，大樓面舖位租務續旺。

整體商舖租務轉好，而過去兩年核心區較少大樓面租務，近來亦有所加快。消息指，銅鑼灣皇室堡商場地庫全層，面積達1.5萬平方呎，以每月約50萬元租出。商場地庫原本大部分樓面，由日本連鎖時裝GU租用，而其他樓面租客包括有餐廳、時裝等，現時多個租戶已遷出，新租客正在裝修中。

市場人士透露，新租客為日式生活百貨連鎖店無印良品，因店舖面積較大，料售賣品牌旗下服裝、家品及文具等。無印良品於銅鑼灣區利舞臺廣場設兩層旗艦店，品牌早年亦於同區世貿中心設分店，而因世貿中心近年進行大型翻新工程，無印良品遷出，如今於皇室堡開分店。

近期大樓面舖位租務增，不少亦來自日本品牌，包括上星期迅銷集團旗下GU，將分別於銅鑼灣及旺角開新分店，其中結束皇室堡分店後，將搬至希慎廣場1樓舖位，面積約5,984平方呎，預計今年中開業，市場估計月租約50萬元。

GU約60萬 租旺角友誠兩層

該舖亦曾為另一時裝店GAP租用，月租料約100萬元，疫情期間品牌遷出，舖位作其他品牌的期間限定店之用，預計是次租金，較舊租平一半。至於另一新舖址為旺角友誠商業中心1及2樓，面積約7,018平方呎，月租料約60萬元，是次成交則屬品牌擴充。

旺角友誠商業中心總樓面面積逾8萬平方呎，業主去年為物業基座商舖部分進行大型翻新，包括外牆、電梯大堂等，近期正式完工，部分舖位已獲承租。

年初通關初期，已有日資藥粧店松本清，租用旺角雅蘭中心地下及1樓，約1萬平方呎舖位，市場估計月租近100萬元。直至現時全面通關，大樓面舖位租務有所加快。

首季45萬呎樓面租出 13年高

本年首季受中港正式通關，商舖租務轉旺。據一間外資代理行統計近十多年的季度商舖租務涉及樓面，今年首季錄得45萬平方呎商舖樓面租出，較去年第四季高5成，以季度計，為2010年統計以來13年最高，比起零售高峰期2011至2012年仍要高，可見通關生效後，零售商紛紛重啟租舖部署，而近期相繼有大樓面舖位租出個案，相信次季仍能保持高數字。

該行代理分析，去年核心區商舖租金，已跌至沙士時期水平，而同時目前市民消費力相當不俗，故品牌把握低租金機會，重新擴充，特別大樓面舖位以往涉及租金高昂，動輒逾百萬元，如今租金回落，商戶認為「計到數」，故願意租用大樓面舖位。他預計，巨舖租務可望持續增加，除了零售店外，中式酒樓等仍有擴充空間。

(經濟日報)

更多希慎廣場寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：希慎廣場寫字樓出租

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更多旺角區甲級寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：旺角區甲級寫字樓出租

疫後商戶「洗牌」 生活百貨吸引力增

疫情期間，與生活品味相關的租戶，例如家品店、運動服裝等明顯擴充，本地市民生活模式有所轉變下，相關商戶近期仍有擴充動作，令核心區商戶趨多元化。

過去3年受疫情衝擊，極少旅客到訪下，核心區整體租務個案不多，亦因消費由本地市民支持，加上封關無外遊機會，故一些與疫情生活有關的商戶需求上升。過去兩年，本港核心區主要商舖租務，多來自運動品牌、生活品味、家品店，以及咖啡店等商戶較積極。市民關注健康，運動成生活一部分，令相關商戶近兩年租舖個案增。

現時全面通關，旅客重返下，近期最積極租舖開業為本地藥粧商戶。至於以往非常積極搶位的奢侈品，則仍相對審慎，缺乏大幅擴充下，核心區舖位租金仍在相對低位。

至於生活百貨、家品等商戶，仍有擴充活動，反映疫後這類與本地消費有關商戶，需求仍然沒有下跌，加上對旅客來說亦有一定吸引力。

核心區舖租務 組合趨多元化

整體而言，過去數月核心區舖位租務上，可發現整體商戶組合比以前多元化。在十年前旅客消費高峰期，鐘錶珠寶等奢侈品，幾乎佔據核心區大部分商舖，以目前銅鑼灣羅素街為例，近期有大型餐廳開業，早前地段2000廣場地下及樓上，獲醫療集團租用，相信在奢侈品未完全回復信心下，核心區商戶種類可望趨向多元化。

(經濟日報)

更多2000年廣場寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：2000廣場寫字樓出租

更多銅鑼灣區甲級寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：銅鑼灣區甲級寫字樓出租

4大核心區舖位 餐廳半年增54間

商舖租金仍處低位，吸引餐飲業租舖。統計顯示，4大核心區 (尖沙咀、旺角、銅鑼灣、中環) 舖位餐廳數目，較半年前增加54間。

以往核心區舖位租金高企，餐飲業較難負擔高租金，並受防疫措施影響生意。據一間本地代理行統計，今年首季本港4大核心零售區，共有2,021間餐廳，較去年第三季高出54間，當中以尖沙咀及旺角區增加數量最多，而餐館較小食、咖啡店等增加數量明顯較高，反映在防疫令解除後，餐飲業亦趁機擴充。

因核心區一綫地段租金調整，近期仍有餐飲業落戶個案。包括近日尖沙咀海防道38至40號中達大廈地下入口連1樓，面積約3,500平方呎，以每月約20萬租出，新租客點心店，租金較前租客跌約5成。

灣仔皇悅酒店地庫舖 租50萬

至於邊綫區，亦同區錄餐飲業擴充，如灣仔軒尼詩道33號皇悅酒店地庫，舖位面積約10,613平方呎，月租約50萬元，據了解，該舖位交吉近5個月，新租客為跨國餐飲品牌，將經營中菜餐廳。

隨着旅客重返，加上本地消費仍然理想，故不少餐廳仍有擴充空間。事實上，近期核心區一綫地段仍有大型餐飲開業，如去年以約100萬元，租用銅鑼灣羅素街兩層舖位，以變形金剛作主題的餐廳，亦正式開業，吸引不少旅客及本地市民前來。

(經濟日報)

更多中達大廈寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：中達大廈寫字樓出租

更多尖沙咀區甲級寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：尖沙咀區甲級寫字樓出租

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan shutters Hong Kong office

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is closing down an Asia equity investment team in Hong Kong, resulting in the loss of five jobs. 

The C$247 billion (US$182 billion) fund is shutting the country-focused stock picking teams in Asia and will concentrate that work from its Toronto head office, according to a statement Tuesday. 

“Asia continues to be core to our global investment strategy, including China where our focus is on building value in our existing portfolio,” according to the statement. Teachers’ added it will continue to invest in private and public assets in China via fund partners, and in public companies through its global investment teams. 

Reuters earlier reported on the team closing. 

The Canadian investor said last year it plans to move into new offices in Singapore with capacity for about 45 to 50 people as part of an Asia push, surpassing the 35 staff in the fund’s Hong Kong office at the time. The pension manager has paused direct investing in private assets in China, people familiar with the matter said in January.

(The Standard)

Hong Kong home prices rise for third month in March 

Hong Kong private home prices in March rose for the third month and edged up 1.4 percent from February, as the reopened border with China and a raft of new launches by property developers at attractive prices boosted market sentiment. 

The rise in home prices last month followed a revised 2.4 percent gain in February, official data showed on Wednesday. 

Prices in the financial hub, ranked by survey company Demographia as the least affordable city in the world for a thirteenth consecutive year, rebounded 5 percent in the first quarter after a 15 percent drop in 2022. 

Transaction volume, however, is expected to soften in April after the earlier spike, as the earlier rush to buy has subsided and the more recent volatility in the global markets has deterred some potential buyers. 

A property agency expected April transactions would decline 30 percent from March. 

"In the near term, factors including high interest rates and inventory in the primary market will still weigh on the home price recovery, I expect prices in the second quarter will see bigger pressure," an agent said. 

The fall in 2022 was the first annual drop since 2008, with the property market dragged down by a weak economic outlook, rising mortgage costs and a Covid-19 outbreak at the beginning of the year. 

(The Standard)

Hong Kong home prices rise for the third straight month to the highest level since September

The home price index rose 1.35 per cent in March to 351.4, the highest since 360.3 in September, official data showed

Nearly 120 housing projects with a total 40,291 units are expected to launch this year, one of the largest stockpiles in nearly two decades, according to a property agency

Hong Kong’s lived-in home prices rose to a six-month high in March, but the pace of growth slowed from the previous month, official data showed as the property market continued to be hobbled by high interest rates and rising stock of unsold new flats.

The Rating and Valuation Department’s home price index climbed 1.35 per cent to 351.4, the highest since 360.3 in September. It was the third straight monthly increase, with gains in Hong Kong’s secondary market adding up to about 5 per cent for the year.

In February, the index gained 2.22 per cent, the most in 33 months, reflecting an improvement in sentiment as Hong Kong and mainland China steadily dropped Covid-19 pandemic curbs.

“There are still negative factors in the market, which are limiting the price rebound, including the higher interest rate environment and the high volume of unsold new units,” an agent said.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority late last month raised the city’s base rate to a 15-year high of 5.25 per cent, after the US Federal Reserve increased its target rate by a quarter point to a range of 4.75 per cent to 5 per cent. However, Hong Kong’s major lenders did not follow suit. HSBC and Bank of China (Hong Kong) kept their best lending rates unchanged at 5.625 per cent, while Standard Chartered kept its prime rate unchanged at 5.875 per cent.

The lifting of travel restrictions in early February between Hong Kong and the mainland had boosted hopes that wealthy Chinese buyers would return to the city to inspect homes for purchase, while companies would have an added incentive to expand or set up operations in the city, potentially bringing in more talent and increasing the tenant pool.

March was also the first full month of a property tax cut, whereby ad valorem stamp duty was reduced to HK$100 for homes worth up to HK$3 million, instead of homes worth up to HK$2 million previously. The tax cut, which is implemented on a sliding scale, applies to homes worth HK$10 million or below, giving a boost particularly to first-time homebuyers.

Last month, overall home sales reached a 20-month high of 6,690 units, according to a property consultancy. Sales of new homes surged to a 16-month high of 1,787 units, more than double the 700 or so transactions in each of the preceding five months.

Large homes saw smaller price increases, while smaller abodes saw bigger gains. Prices of units with an area of at least 100 square metres rose 0.78 per cent, while prices of smaller units between 40 sq metres and 99.9 sq metres gained 1.32 per cent, official data showed.

Meanwhile, as many as 119 new private housing projects with a combined 40,291 units are expected to launch this year, one of the largest stockpiles in nearly two decades, according to another property agency.

“We expect residential prices to trend softer in the coming months as transaction momentum turns slower due to pent-up demand being digested,” another agent said. “Most recently launched projects offered competitive prices that are only at a slight premium, if not below, prevailing secondary prices. As more potential home buyers are diverted to the primary market, the demand for second-hand properties could be under pressure.”

As developers compete for potential homebuyers, they have been extending various perks and incentives, effectively limiting price increases. This was likely another reason for the slower growth for lived-in home prices, market observers said.

“Some existing homeowners are not willing to cut home prices, while buyers are not willing to offer more, leading some to turn to the primary market,” the agent said.