China's long-awaited public real........>

CHINA PRESS: China's long-awaited public real estate investment trust (REITS)

will be launched this year or next year, China Securities Journal reported

Tuesday. 

  - The basic framework is likely to be fixed-asset security funds and

asset-backed securities, the newspaper said, citing unidentified market

participants; 

  - As the Chinese government is campaigning to deleverage and develop its

rental housing market, securitization of rental housing assets will advance, the

newspaper said. 

***Comments: The launch of public REITS in the near future could open up a large

investment market for Chinese citizens as it allows them to invest in the

property sector outside of merely buying houses. The move is expected to cool

down the frenzy of buying houses for speculation and investment in China, thus

reining in the potential of a property bubble.