Bank stocks vs Reits may be a false dichotomy

SOME analysts have argued the recent selldown of Singapore bank stocks on concerns over US-China trade tensions has made them attractive on valuation grounds, trumping even the much vaunted, high yielding S-Reit sector.

Forward yields on bank stocks range from 3.8 per cent to 5.3 per cent, not that far off from that of the average Reit.

But it should be said that banks' profitability can look vulnerable at this point, all things equal.

A rate cut that hangs over the heads of banks will hit the loans business. Banks make money from their net interest margin (NIM) earned from lending, with Singapore lenders expressing optimism in earlier quarters of a stronger NIM for the rest of 2019.

Given that the Fed has signalled a possible rate cut, those bets must surel…