Urgent need for stricter rules to discourage buyout of property stocks at a severely undervalued offer

SINGAPORE'S private home market is buoyant and investor appetite for investment properties here is strong, amid low interest rates and the nation's safe haven status.

But listed property groups sitting on valuable real estate portfolios are trading at a substantial discount, and present regulations are insufficient to prevent controlling shareholders from squeezing minorities out at discount rates.

Changes to regulations are urgent in the current environment of widespread undervaluation.