Tag: volatility

Eurostat: House Prices Rose by 6.2% in Spain in 2017

11 July 2018 – Eje Prime

The acceleration of the housing market has placed Spain amongst the leading countries in Europe in terms of price rises. In fact, in just one year, the country has risen from 21st position, with an average increase of 4.6% in 2016, to 12th , with an average increase of 6.2% last year.

In 2016, Spain already exceeded the average rise for the European Union as a whole, which amounted to 4.6% at the time, but in 2017, it distanced itself further from the average, moving closer to the group of countries with the highest rises in prices: whilst in Spain, the increase amounted to 6.2% in 2017, the average rise for the European Union as a whole was 4.4%.

Spain outperformed Austria, where prices rose by 8.5% in 2016 (in 2017, they only increased by 5.3%); Norway, which went from an increase of 7.9% in 2016 to 5.4% in 2017; and the United Kingdom, where house prices increased by 7% in 2016 and by 4.5% in 2017.

Iceland, the Czech Republic and Ireland were, in that order, the three markets where house prices rose by the most in 2017, with rises of 19.5%, 11.7% and 10.9%, respectively. Iceland was the only country to feature in the top 3 in both years; in 2016, it was joined by Hungary and Sweden.

Several countries from Eastern Europe, such as Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Hungary (with high volatilities in terms of the evolution of house prices) were amongst the most inflationary in terms of house prices in 2017, together with countries in Western Europe, such as Portugal, where prices rose by 9.2%; the Netherlands (7.5%) and Sweden (6.4%).

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the only European country where house prices decreased in 2017 was Italy, with a reduction of -0.8%. It was accompanied by moderate price increases in Finland (1.6%), Cyprus (2.2%), France (3.6%) and Croatia and Poland (both 3.8%).

The figures from Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office, include purchase prices of new and second-hand homes. According to the EU entity, these prices “have fluctuated significantly since 2006”. “The annual growth rate in the European Union as a whole was close to 8% in 2006 and 2007, followed by decreases of 4% as a result of the financial crisis”, it continued.

Prices started to increase in 2014, with an average cumulative rise across the whole of the European Union of 11% between 2010 and 2017, and of 6% in the Eurozone during the same period, according to Eurostat. In the case of Spain, despite the increases in recent years, the country has registered a cumulative decrease of 17% since the start of the century.

Original story: Eje Prime (by Christian de Angelis)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Spain’s RE Companies see their Share Prices Rise by 30% on Average in 2017

12 December 2017 – Expansión

Spain’s real estate companies are on a roll: the recovery in activity has given these companies more visibility on the stock market. On average their share prices have risen by 30% in 2017. Renta Corporación, Hispania and InSur are the best performers and all three are very much in favour with the experts.

The property sector is in fashion on the stock market. On average, the share prices of real estate companies rose by 30% in 2017, well above the 10% rise that the Overall Index has registered since the beginning of the year.

Within this group, three companies shine the brightest: Inmobiliaria del Sur, Hispania and Renta Corporación all saw their share prices rise by between 39% and 53%, and the experts think that the upward trend will continue.

Moreover, Urbas and Axiare also saw their share prices rise by more than 30% in 2017, but for diametrically opposite reasons. The first was suspended from trading in September after the National Court announced that it was investigating the firm’s President for “suspected fraud” following a complaint filed by the Anticorruption Prosecutor.

Meanwhile, Axiare is the target of a takeover by its counterpart Colonial, which launched its bid in the middle of November and saw it approved by the CNMV just a few days ago. The operation, which is expected to result in the creation of a real estate group with assets worth €10 billion, offered a 13% premium over the company’s share price at the time, which led to a sharp rise. Currently, the company’s shares are trading just below the offer price (€18.29 compared to €18.36 per Colonial’s latest offer).

The economic environment, improvement in activity and greater investor appetite for housing are all working in favour of these companies, said Nicolás López, from M&G Valores.

However, the expert points out that the low market capitalisation of some of them and their very low liquidity increase their volatility, which makes them options suitable only for high-risk profiles.

Renta Corporación’s share price has risen by more than 50%

In the case of Renta Corporación, which is limited in size: amounting to just €92 million. The company is the best performing real estate company of 2017, with a share price increase of 53% (…). The company has taken advantage of its knowledge of the real estate market to launch, together with the Dutch pension fund APG, a Socimi. Since its creation, eight months ago, the new listed company has invested €93 million in the purchase of more than 1,000 homes, all located in Madrid and the surrounding area (…).

Strategic diversification favours InSur

Inmobiliaria del Sur completes the podium of the most profitable real estate companies this year. Its share price has risen by 40%. The secret to its success is the new business plan that the company has launched and which has been welcomed warmly by the market.

The family business, which has more than 70 years of experience, splits its activity between the construction of homes and the rental of office buildings, which allows it to have two revenue streams. With a business plan that involves building more than 2,000 homes between now and 2020, InSur has closed alliances with partners such as Anida, the real estate arm of BBVA, to become a key player in residential development (…).

Hispania’s specialisation boosts its share price

Meanwhile, Hispania’s share price has risen by more than 39% since the beginning of the year. This year, the company (…) has initiated a new phase, specialising in hotel assets (in June, it became the largest hotel owner in Spain with 38 establishments) and divesting the rest of its properties (…).

A few weeks ago, the company published its results for the third quarter, which went down well. The Socimi recorded a profit of €179 million during the first nine months of the year, up by 31% compared to the same period in 2016 (…).

Original story: Expansión (by D. Esperanza and R. Ruiz)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Merlin’s Share Price Stays Below €10 Amidst Divestment Rumours

22 April 2016 – El Boletín

The downwards trend in the share price of Merlin Properties is accelerating amidst rumours of divestments. The Socimi’s share price decreased by 2% on the stock exchange after it was revealed that it is considering the sale of some of its premises, currently leased to BBVA, its main tenant.

The slight decrease in the share price in recent months has accelerated following the news that Merlin is considering the sale of a “residual part” of the premises that BBVA leases from it as branches. Currently, there are 888 buildings in this situation, which meant that when it debuted on the stock exchange – exactly four months ago today – it was known as the landlord of the bank chaired by Francisco González.

Whilst this movement would form part of the asset rotation policy set out in the listed entity’s strategic plan, investors are reacting negatively to this change in Merlin’s criteria with respect to one of its main tenants. Thus, share sales increased during the trading session and the Ibex 35 fell prey to the uncertainty surrounding the wait for Mario Draghi to share his account of the European Central Bank (ECB)’s next moves.

Analysts at Capital Bolsa also indicated that the technical analysis of its graph points more towards a decline to €9.50 per share, than a comeback to the €10.00 threshold. Until the Ibex’s Socimi manages to exceed its recent maximums of €10.079 per share, the trend to increase its losses will continue, which now amount to 15% in terms of its market capitalisation since the beginning of this year.

Original story: El Boletín

Translation: Carmel Drake

Sabadell Places €750M 5-Yr Debt Issue At 0.475%

1 June 2015 – Expansión

€750 million debt issue / The bank has placed an issue of 5-year mortgage bonds with a record low yield of 0.475%.

For many financial institutions, the excess liquidity in the market is offsetting the recent increase in volatility that has resulted from the lack of agreement between Brussels and Greece. As a result, debt issues are proving successful.

Friday’s operation by Sabadell is a good example. Just 24 hours after the bank held its AGM, it went to the market in search of financing through the issue of 5-year mortgage bonds, arranged by Barclays, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Lloyds. It paid a yield of 0.475%, which represents the lowest ever interest rate on a bond issue. Moreover, spreads, or differentials, are returning to pre-crisis levels, given that this yield sits just 12 basis points above the mid-swap rate (the reference rate for fixed rate issues).

“The primary international investors have all taken part in this operation and the participation rate in Germany has been particularly noteworthy. The main investors participating in the issue have been financial institutions, central banks, investment fund managers, insurance companies and pension funds”, said the entity in a statement on Friday.

Balance sheet

Sabadell has been particularly active in the market for this type of issue. Since November last year, it has completed four such transactions, raising €3,100 million in total. “The solvency of Banco Sabadell and its reputation on the international financial markets have undoubtedly been the factors that have contributed to the success of this placement”, it added. The bank wants to take advantage of the decreasing financing costs caused by the recent stimulus measures put in place by the European Central Bank (ECB). “The release of this issue will take place on 10 June and its launch forms part of Banco Sabadell’s non-equity security program, filed with the CNMV”, explain sources at the bank.

In September last year, the financial institution launched a covered bond (the term used for bonds in Europe) purchase program. In total, it has acquired €82,805 million. Moreover, it put in place a securitisation purchase program at the end of last year, and as a result it will close the first transaction involving Spanish mortgages since 2007, with UCI, which is owned by Santander and BNP Paribas. And in March this year, it started to purchase government debt, which has significantly reduced its financing costs.

Improved credit

As a result, credit is being revived once more, which is the main objective of the ECB. In this regard, Josep Oliu, Chairman of Sabadell (pictured above), said at the entity’s AGM last Thursday, that the strong level of competition in the financial markets to secure credit in the context of excess liquidity, represents a threat to the recovery of the banks’ financial results.

Original story: Expansión (by D. Badía)

Translation: Carmel Drake