BOJ faces decision over property trusts

Tokyo

THE Bank of Japan's (BOJ) purchases of shares in real estate investment trusts (Reits) has buoyed this key market, helping breathe life back into the nation's moribund property industry.

Without a shift in policy, this could begin to change as the central bank runs out of securities to buy over the next year that meet its strict investment criteria, according to analysts at UBS Group AG and Mizuho Financial Group Inc.

Options include buying J-Reits with lower credit ratings or pledging to maintain the current pace of purchases, a stance that would help support prices as new issuance hit…