Singapore retail and office Reits expected to be resilient: Fitch

Singapore

WHILE a challenging year lies ahead for Singapore retail and office real estate investment trusts (Reits) with rising supply and weak demand, both sectors' credit profiles are expected to be largely unaffected, said credit rating agency Fitch.

For the nine retail Reits, various factors such as low leverage levels, robust interest coverage, and manageable debt and lease contract maturities in the near term put them in good stead, said analyst Hasira de Silva in a report on Wednesday.

Vacancy rates in Singapore's retail space are expected to rise from 8 per cent at the end of last year to about 10 per cent this year, as retail space expands by about 4 per cent amid poor de…