About GFI Colliers
GFI Colliers, a joint venture between GFI Group and Colliers International - a leading real estate consultancy - provides broking services in property derivatives to various institutions, including banks, funds and property companies. GFI Colliers brokered the first property derivative contract in Asia-Pacific in February 2007, referencing “The University of Hong Kong Real Estate Index Series (HKU-REIS)”
Hong Kong
GFI Colliers brokers property derivative contracts referencing The University of Hong Kong Real Estate Index Series (HKU-REIS). This index series tracks the change in capital value of the Hong Kong residential real estate market and is rapidly becoming the benchmark for residential property returns. GFI Colliers has successfully promoted and brokered swaps and more recently options, tailoring contracts to suit our clients’ requirements. Work is underway to bring a commercial index series run by Investment Property Databank (IPD), as well as a luxury residential price index for the Hong Kong market.
Australia
GFI brokers both residential and commercial property derivatives referencing the RPData/Rismark (residential) hedonic Index and the PCA/IPD Australia Index (commercial). With robust indices and a developed indirect market the outlook for derivatives is positive, as understanding of the benefits of these instruments grows.
Japan
Currently the main index used for trading property derivatives in Japan is the IPD Japan Monthly Indicator. It uses data on the performance of all Japanese assets that are included in the Japanese real estate investment trusts (J-REITs) to highlight trends in the property market.
Korea
GFI Colliers is exploring opportunities for property derivatives based on the IPD Korean Annual Property Index; IPD recently launched its Korean index series in April 2008 which measures un-geared returns on direct property investments.
Singapore
GFI Colliers has been working with potential index providers to establish residential indices for the Singapore market and we hope to see a residential index launched in the second half of this year. Work is also being done on a commercial index.
