Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dasco-australia">DASCO</a> has pushed beyond the now-standard inclusions of rooftop pools and landscaped podiums at its recently launched new Epping project, Senso.

It has laid out over 4,000 sqm of resident-only amenity in a move designed to compete directly with low-density housing on livability, not just density. The result is a development that supports genuine daily use through purposeful spaces distributed across its five-building, 479-apartment precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4396]

Two rooftop pools form the anchor of Senso. One is a 27-metre lap pool adjoining a heated spa, designed for everyday fitness rather than just summer leisure. The second sits on a lower podium, allowing different buildings to share in vertical access and reducing crowding during peak times.

It is the secondary spaces that start to distinguish Senso from other large-scale suburban projects. A rooftop cinema is integrated into a landscaped terrace, offering open-air screenings with natural ventilation and passive cooling.&nbsp;

The inclusion of a “sensory walk”, an elevated boardwalk that threads through the site, suggests a rare investment in non-commercial, non-essential amenity: space for quiet movement that doesn’t double as access or traffic circulation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4402]

The gym and wellness centre, often relegated to a small ground-floor room in many builds, takes on more substance here. Residents have access to a fully equipped gym, as well as outdoor yoga areas and meditative zones that integrate greenery and natural light.&nbsp;

The Club Lounge is similarly designed to support multiple use cases, with a private dining terrace, kitchenette, workspace, and lockable wine storage. These aren’t superficial additions; their scale and spatial allocation indicate serious intent for frequent resident use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4391]

Importantly, Senso’s amenities are embedded within a site that spans more than 10,000 sqm, allowing for better separation between spaces and reduced noise spillover, a critical but often overlooked factor in high-density developments. This spatial generosity also enables multiple alfresco kitchens and communal terraces without compromising individual privacy or usable space.

While many developments make claims about lifestyle, few back it with this level of built infrastructure. Senso’s mix of dedicated fitness, wellness, social and passive green spaces suggests a conscious response to the post-pandemic shift in housing expectations, especially among owner-occupiers.&nbsp;

DASCO is one of several leading developers who have taken out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing buyers with a 10-year structural and waterproofing warranty, and giving them the ultimate peace of mind.

Senso is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134954]

Staff Writer

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

Following the proposal by the Minns Labor Government to rezone Parramatta Road to create up to 8,000 new homes, prominent developer Ceerose has gone to the NSW Gov to increase the density of its new mixed-use residential building in Leichhardt.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/ceerose">Ceerose</a>, founded by Edward Doueihi nearly three decades ago, has filed plans for 154 apartments above ground-floor retail at 307-315 Parramatta Road, a key corner site near Norton Street, the main high street strip in Leichhardt.

It's an upsize from the previously approved scheme of 63 apartments across a seven-storey building.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba1ae75b-5f08-43fb-b8d5-3de6d9f6ef71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.39%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yA3hBBLPH4ev7MsAE0_hieXeqiFqBUb7" />

The project is being advanced through the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, with concurrent rezoning sought to facilitate the proposal. The 10-storey development would rise over a four-level basement and deliver two retail tenancies, one a larger-format offering and the other a smaller “hole in the wall” space, addressing the Parramatta Road frontage. 21 of the apartments are dedicated as affordable housing.

According to the Urban Design Report by Architecture AND, the scheme includes a podium and tower configuration, with a fine-grain, two-storey parapet street wall that references the traditional shopfront rhythm along the corridor. “An elegant tower form is proposed, combined with a characterful two storey frontage... articulating it as two related buildings, providing consistency with the rhythm and grain of Parramatta Road,” the report notes.

The residential component is split across two slender towers set back from the street edge, a design move aimed at preserving solar access and reducing perceived bulk. This massing strategy also seeks to improve residential amenity by focusing scale toward the quieter northern interface, away from Parramatta Road’s noise and pollution.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347f2f8f-5d36-4388-b40a-2e77380b9c19" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xvyUE2ujT1lzivXTo.mHBJFF4SmfgLtz" />

Architecture AND has worked with Ceerose on previous Inner West projects, and cites a deep familiarity with the local character. Their design draws heavily on context, heritage, and sunlight access considerations, and engages with the Inner West Council’s “Our Fairer Future” strategic planning framework.

The site spans 2,712 sqm and is located near key intersections with Catherine Street, Hay Street, and Redmond Street. It adjoins a public carpark to the north and is within walking distance of Stanmore and Petersham stations. It is also flagged in state and local planning strategies, including the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, as a suitable candidate for increased density.

Ceerose recently completed The Alex Collective on McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay.

The Parramatta Road corridor is coming to life with the proposed rezoning which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes.

Deicorp is progressing with its $1.8 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> precinct on Parramatta Road in Five Dock, as is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/toga-to-push-on-with-five-dock-mixed-use-masterplan">TOGA further down the street</a>. Those two projects alone will bring nearly 2,000 new homes to Parramatta Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Ceerose plots mixed-use Leichhardt development on Parramatta Road

North Sydney's landmark 'SBS Building' on Alfred Street is set to be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use residential tower in the booming North Sydney.

Commercial property group FiveX is behind the plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">39-storey tower</a>, the latest project to advance under the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

They are proposing 184 apartments above retail spaces, which will replace the existing 20-storey commercial building. FiveX was set up more than five decades ago by Joshua and Marko Berger. It is currently led by Joshua's son Lesli.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower at 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efa0980-53fa-4cca-9f9e-9c3c845d4746" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_0.png?VersionId=y_YyPMq3NQLfYRs84pP4os9UgWiMLp75" />

According to the Architectural Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">FJC Studio</a>, the slender tower form has been deliberately designed to respect the site's transitional setting at the southern gateway to the North Sydney CBD, where high-rise towers give way to lower-scale residential precincts.

"The slender tower form and articulated podium establish a respectful relationship with nearby heritage and low rise buildings, including the Whaling Road Heritage Conservation Area,” the architecture firm noted, adding that the tower “completes a missing link in the urban fabric” while enhancing the Alfred Street streetscape.

The proposed building will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 15 percent of the gross residential floor area allocated as affordable housing. There is an agreement already in place that those apartments will be managed by Evolve Housing.

The project aligns with broader state housing objectives, including the National Housing Accord target of delivering 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The Scoping Report filed with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) suggests the site "presents no impediments to rapid delivery,” with construction able to commence within 12 months of receiving consent.

North Sydney has been one of the most popular suburbs in Sydney for new and off the plan apartment development, but hasn't had the supply to keep up with demand, until recently.

AURA by Aqualand was, for a long time, the only off the plan apartment building on the market. That completed last year, and has sold the majority of its 386 luxury apartments. Recently ALAND launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> on the same street, selling over $100 million within just a few hours of its launch, while developer CASA also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>&nbsp;in the same precinct.

First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney

Kokoda Property Group has announced the Sydney-based Versatile Construction as the builder for its landmark $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a> precinct.

Construction of the 17,612 sqm site is scheduled to commence in December 2025 and is expected to be delivered in stages from 2028. Once complete, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a> will comprise 212 residences across four architecturally distinct buildings, alongside Brisbane’s first Kimpton Hotel, extensive retail, hospitality, and wellness amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139896 project_image_fid=295098]

Kokoda Property Group Founder and Managing Director, Mark Stevens, said appointing Versatile Construction marks a significant milestone for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a>.

“Partnering with Versatile Construction gives us confidence in delivering a precinct that sets a new benchmark for luxury living, curated experiences and vibrant riverfront activation," Stevens said.

"Together, we will bring the vision for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a> to life, creating a destination that residents and visitors will enjoy for generations."

Throughout the construction phase, more than 2,000 jobs will be created, supporting hundreds of local contractors and suppliers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139896 project_image_fid=352274]

Marco Fahd, Chairman &amp; CEO at Versatile Group, said the company is looking forward to&nbsp;expanding their footprint in the state, taking on their inaugural project in Brisbane.

"We are proud of the unwavering commitment our team of experts have to quality and certainty in delivery and are excited to work with Kokoda to bring their vision for this unique project to life," Fahd says.

Sales reached $285 million on the launch of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a>, with sales momentum continuing to "exceed all expectations."

Stevens says the overwhelming response from buyers validated the group’s vision for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/teneriffe-banks-17-27-skyring-terrace-teneriffe-qld-4005">Teneriffe Banks</a>.

“The demand for a luxury product in this enclave has been extraordinary, we’ve never seen anything like it before. It reinforces everything we’re doing around quality, design, and creating genuine lifestyle precincts. Buyers are recognising the enduring value of Brisbane’s riverfront and are responding to the opportunity to live within a world-class destination that celebrates both place and lifestyle.”

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139896]

Kokoda appoints builder for $1.5 billion Teneriffe Banks waterfront precinct

Castle Hill’s booming development market is set for another boost, with builder-developer Buildex proposing a new mid-rise apartment building near Castle Towers.

Buildex has submitted plans to The Hills Shire Council for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/197-old-northern-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">nine-storey building comprising 57 apartments</a> on Old Northern Road. The company acquired two adjoining sites earlier this year, totalling more than 2,683 sqm.

Texco Design has prepared the scheme, which includes five one-bed plus study apartments, 37 two-bedrooms, and 15 three-bedrooms.

Castle Hill has become a hotspot for developers in recent years, undergoing significant transformation driven by the opening of the Hills Showground Precinct to development and the introduction of two metro stations servicing the suburb.

Developers including Deicorp and Kassis Homes have already completed projects, and are progressing future developments, while Meriton, Arada, and Ellipse are currently delivering new projects in the rapidly evolving area.

First look: Buildex plans 57 apartments near Castle Towers

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The extreme volatility and losses seen in stock markets in recent weeks has seen calls for <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/should-financial-markets-be-closed-over-the-coronavirus-51584735453" target="_blank" style="font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.15999984741211px;">financial markets to be closed</a> and <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp" target="_blank" style="font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.15999984741211px;">short selling</a> restricted.
But shutting them down would be a mistake.
Amid the volatility, financial market prices convey much needed information.
S&amp;P/ASX 200 share index over the past year
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/322223/original/file-20200323-22627-1bx5112.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/322223/original/file-20200323-22627-1bx5112.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EAXJO/" target="_blank">Source: Yahoo Finance</a>
In an early morning meeting at the White House the day after the 1987 stock market crash, then US Treasury Secretary Jim Baker floated the idea of closing the stock market.
The Chair of President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers, the Chicago-trained monetarist <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-08-28-0908270729-story" target="_blank">Beryl Sprinkel</a>, was having none of it.
According to several second and <a href="https://streetwiseprofessor.com/when-monkeys-fly/" target="_blank">third-hand accounts</a>, when his opinion was sought, Sprinkel said “we will close the markets when monkeys come flying out of my ass.”
When Reagan asked Fed Chair Alan Greenspan for his opinion, Greenspan declared, “I go with the monkeys”.
The US stock market stayed open that day and rallied late in the afternoon, injecting a note of much-needed confidence.
<h2>Prices tell us truths</h2>
The Fed’s operations to maintain liquidity (the ability to buy and sell) remain a textbook case of how to respond to severe financial market stress.
The US economy was spared recession on that occasion.
Today’s situation is different in important respects. Policymakers are choosing to shut down the economy, and financial markets are pricing shares accordingly. Bond markets have been shaken as investors sell bonds to raise cash and prepare for governments to issue a flood of new bonds.
The US dollar has rallied as the world scrambles for US dollars, sending exchange rates against the US dollar dramatically lower.
As my previous <a href="https://www.ussc.edu.au/analysis/the-reserve-currency-myth-the-us-dollars-current-and-future-role-in-the-world-economy/" target="_blank">research</a> shows, the US dollar often climbs when the economic outlook is most dire, explaining why the Australian dollar is at its lowest in nearly two decades.
US cents per Australian dollar
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/322225/original/file-20200323-22590-10kj7be.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/322225/original/file-20200323-22590-10kj7be.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
<a class="source" href="https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/#exchange-rates" target="_blank">Source: Reserve Bank of Australia</a>
Amid such extreme volatility, it would be tempting to close financial markets, in particular, stock exchanges.
There is no reason to close markets for reasons of public health. Financial markets are now traded almost entirely electronically. The US has been forced to close its trading floors in <a href="https://qz.com/1822981/new-york-stock-exchange-shuts-floor-as-coronavirus-spreads/" target="_blank">New York</a> and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/11/cme-group-will-close-chicago-trading-floor-as-a-precaution-over-coronavirus" target="_blank">Chicago</a>, but these trading floors were already legacies of an earlier era, largely ornamental adornments to digital trading.
Stock markets have their own circuit breakers that kick in during extreme volatility, but to do more than that would be to deprive traders and policymakers of the insights they offer.
Price movements function as alerts. It is noteworthy that financial markets sold off days before the World Health Organisation finally declared a pandemic.
They can also inform policymakers about what to do. When share markets begin a sustained recovery, it will be a sign the worst of the pandemic might be behind us.
We need prices for financial products in the same way we need prices for goods and services. Without them, decision-making becomes difficult, if not impossible.
Preventing investors from selling stocks to raise cash (which is what a stock market shutdown would do) could cause severe hardship.
With share market prices falling sharply, it’s tempting to think closing them will stem the losses, but it could trigger even more painful adjustments elsewhere.
<h2>Even short sellers have a place</h2>
Other countries have imposed bans on short selling, which is the sale of a share the seller does not yet own.
Short sellers profit by buying back shares at a lower price after they have sold them. They do it by borrowing rather than owning stocks. Their actions help the owners of stocks who want to protect their financial positions from further declines in price.
If owners can’t protect themselves in this way, they can be forced to liquidate shares, making the downturn even worse.
The global financial crisis gave us a wealth of experience with bans on short-selling, <a href="http://www.institutional-economics.com/images/uploads/pf19_-_Shooting_the_Messenger_The_Ban_on_Short_Selling.pdf" target="_blank">including in Australia</a>. The evidence from that experience overwhelmingly suggests short-selling bans were counter-productive.
Keeping markets open will be a painful experience for many, but closing them is the equivalent of shooting the messenger.
Eventually, they will signal better times ahead and give business the confidence to move forward with the recovery.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/134387/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-kirchner-1726" target="_blank">Stephen Kirchner</a>, Program Director, Trade and Investment, United States Studies Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841" target="_blank">University of Sydney</a>
This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/itd-be-a-mistake-to-shut-financial-markets-more-than-ever-we-need-them-to-work-134387" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

It'd be a mistake to shut financial markets: more than ever, we need them to work

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The ASX has announced it is partnering with Australian Technology Innovators (ATI), the parent company of InfoTrack, to create Sympli, a national electronic property settlement service.
The service will offer lawyers, conveyancers and financial institutions a more streamlined and comprehensive technology solution.
The ASX advises it will seamlessly integrate with clients' existing practices and systems.
The service, owned 50:50 by ASX and ATI, is, subject to regulatory approvals, expected to begin operations towards the end of the year.
The ASX says the electronic property settlement industry in Australia is estimated to have potential revenues in excess of $200 million.
ASX expects to invest around $30 million in the new venture of this and the next two financial years.
It will comrpise around $7 million in 2018, with further investments in 2019 and 2020. The ASX estimates Sympli will break-even in the 2021 financial year.
Below is the ASX executive summary. Click here <a href="https://edge.alluremedia.com.au/uploads/businessinsider/2018/05/asx-settlements.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img class="size_primary" src="https://edge.alluremedia.com.au/uploads/businessinsider/2018/05/asx-settlements.jpg" alt="">
ASX managing director and CEO Dominic Stevens said entering the electronic property settlement market is a natural evolution for ASX.
"We already settle approximately $70 billion in transactions electronically every day and have been the central settlement venue for the Australian financial market for decades," Stevens said.
"InfoTrack is the ideal partner as the market leader in legal and property search.
"It has 18 years’ experience and brings a deep understanding of, and connectivity to, the property conveyancing industry.
He said Sympli is an "exciting opportunity."
"Combining the experience and expertise of both shareholders will enable Sympli to provide a compelling offering, which we believe will allow users to easily realise the efficiencies of electronic property settlements.”
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

ASX to create electronic property settlement platform Sympli

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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The electronic property settlements provider PEXA aim to list on the ASX, has reportedly seen it asking investment banks to "pre-qualify" for a role in its slated $1 billion-plus initial public offering. 
The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk wrote PEXA's adviser, CITIC-CLSA, last week invited selected investment banks to express interest in running the IPO.
The PEXA chairman is Alan Cameron, founding head of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The ownership group includes the big four banks, Macquarie Group, Link Administration Holdings, three state governments, and the former Toll Holdings boss Paul Little
Macquarie is PEXA's biggest shareholder with around a 25 per cent stake.
One-in-five settlements are now completed online via PEXA.
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The float is slated for the December quarter.
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E-conveyancer PEXA float re-scheduled for late 2018

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Australians have spent the last month eyeing their share portfolios as the volatility of Wall Street crept into the ASX.
Over many decades, equities have been a proven performer for Australians. But just as a single day can have you planning a kitchen renovation, inherent risks can mean losses just as easily transpire; it’s part and parcel of the modern, global economy. As an example, in early February, about $70 billion was wiped from the All Ordinaries – the top 500 companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange - in the space of three days.
Ask anyone what their goal out of an investment is and the response is unanimous: make as much money as possible.
Amongst the suite of investment classes – which continue to diversify through the profile of options like cryptocurrencies – real estate continues to be a cornerstone. As opposed to other options, it’s less exposed to daily or weekly fluctuations.
As an investment class, real estate has a tremendous profile, simply because the overwhelming percentage of people have had some form of relationship with property: most people have either been sellers, buyers or tenants at some point their lives. It’s this exposure that allows people to be more comfortable with the process and research involved, especially with the amount of information at our fingertips.
So how does real estate stack up?
There’s no such thing as a foolproof get-rich scheme. Any investment – irrespective of class – should be treated as a long-term proposition. So, while equities markets have taken a battering in the last few weeks, it’s more appropriate to view them in a long-term perspective.
Twenty years ago, the All Ords Index was 2894. In mid-February, the Index was around 6147, representing an average gain over time of 112%. Companies on the All Ords are, by their nature, solid, long-term performers that avoid fluctuations. While most investors will include some members of the All Ords in their wealth management strategies, they’ll supplement it with ‘higher risk’ performers which can accelerate returns.
But let’s examine residential real estate over the same period. In December 1997, the median house price across Australia was $139,000 (you can find some car spaces in the city fringes of Sydney and Melbourne being purchased for similar prices, today).
At the end of last year, the median national house price was $535,000, representing an increase of 285% over two decades – well above the performance of equities.
Look at the big picture
But results need to be viewed at face value with numerous variables involved in both. For instance, borrowing for shares is usually something only highly experienced investors engage in, while most real estate investors will borrow for their investment(s). So, commonly, share market gains can be seen in their entirety for most investors, while capital gains in property are offset by mortgage debts.
Also, real estate investors look for a combination of capital gains and yield in their investments. And if a property can be positively geared, the investor is placed in a great position.
But, it’s the safety of real estate that allows it to really stand out from other investment classes. As the below graph shows, the national median house price has only ventured into negative territory three times in the past 20 years. In contrast, equities have made negative 12-month gains on nine occasions.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/28/Picture1.jpg" alt="">
So, as an investment class, history has shown that real estate offers steady growth and less fluctuations in value. 
Mathew Tiller is head of research at LJ Hooker.
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Property v shares, the age-old debate: LJ Hooker's Mathew Tiller

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Moelis Australia is weighing up an ASX listing of the Redcape Hotel Group this year.
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In July 2017, a Moelis Fund acquired the Redcape Hotel Group for $676m representing an asset level capitalisation rate of 9.6%. 
Redcape is the second largest gaming hotel operator in NSW and consists of 25 hotels, 22 of which are located in NSW and 3 in Queensland. 
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Moelis' chief executive Andrew Pridham confirmed Moelis' intention to consider a listing for Redcape in 2018, but said the ultimate decision would depend on market conditions.
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Moelis acquired Redcape from US hedge fund owners Varde Partners and York Capital.<a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/commercial/hotels-and-leisure/moelis-snaps-up-redcape-pubs-for-667m-plans-ipo-20170628-gx0k4x#ixzz4ptVxw3jV" title=""></a>
Redcape had a property portfolio comprising of 82 properties including 71 pubs and 11 shops based mainly in Queensland and NSW, with a small number of properties in Victoria and SA in 2011.
In 2011 the hedge fund consortium bought 38% of Redcape's $645 million worth of secured senior debt for around $200m and also acquired all of the $157 m worth of debt of National Leisure and Gaming, Redcape’s major tenant for between $ 35m and $40m.
The listed pub sector was battered during the GFC.
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Moelis eyes ASX listing of Redcape Hotel Group

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The ASX share scrip of the valuation company LandMark White has been the victim of fraudulent sales activity.
The company happened across the fraud when 36,000 shares were advised as sold by the company's CEO Brad Piltz.
Greg White, the company chairman, quickly told the ASX the $21,000 sale of the shares was not what it seemed.
An unknown fraudster instructed the brokerage for the sale of Piltz's shares and into a new bank account.
When the sale and fraud was detected, the company broker immediately bought 36,000 shares to offset the sale.
Piltz's shareholding had been on the increase with $200,000 in shares bought in November and December and a further $42,000 this year.
Last year the Gandel family emerged as a substantial shareholder in LandMark White.
In May LandMark White bought MVS National for $16 million.
LMW has around $60 million in gross annual revenues.
It recently has been hit with at least eight valuers leaving including three directors.
It lost several valuers to rival Charter Keck Cramer which has established a Brisbane office.
Led by director Andrew Binney, they include director Michael McClifty and residential development valuer and director Shaun Golden, trade press suggested.
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

LandMark White declare fraudulent activity with its ASX share sale

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<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-potts-105412" target="_blank" style="font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px;">Jason Potts</a>, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063" target="_blank">RMIT University</a>
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Bitcoin may be the most famous example of a <a href="https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf" target="_blank">blockchain in use</a>, but it is actually a rather unimaginative way to use it.
The blockchain is finally starting to fulfil its promise as a game-changing technology, a kind of infrastructure for record-keeping. To facilitate movement of value (such as money) and changes in ownership (shares, for example), and even to <a href="https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/identity/" target="_blank">manage online identities</a>.
The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) has <a href="http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20171207/pdf/43pz030qxzdcvs.pdf" target="_blank">announced</a> that it will use a blockchain-based system to record who owns shares of listed companies, and to keep track of transactions and settlements when people buy and sell shares.
The move comes as the price of Bitcoin has <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/price/" target="_blank">risen more than US$14,000 in the past year</a>. Yet Bitcoin does not really exploit the new databases and record-keeping infrastructure that blockchain technology makes possible.
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Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/demystifying-the-blockchain-a-basic-user-guide-60226" target="_blank">Demystifying the blockchain: a basic user guide</a>
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The blockchain is also called a “public” or “distributed” ledger. Think of a spreadsheet that is publicly available to view, and simultaneously held on numerous computers. When someone transfers a Bitcoin, it is verified by the system, encrypted, and a new line (or “block”) is added to the spreadsheet.
The ASX’s blockchain will replace the ASX’s <a href="http://www.asx.com.au/services/settlement/asx-settlement.htm" target="_blank">CHESS</a> (Clearing House Electronic Sub-registry System) system. Currently, the ASX requires each trade to be verified against the ASX’s centralised database of ownership records and reconciled with payments.
So while trades take place in fractions of a second, the actual clearance (making sure who owns what) and settlement (the transfer of money and shares) is cumbersome, slow, expensive, and prone to human error.
The ASX’s blockchain will greatly simplify this process. Instead of having to reconcile trades against a centralised database, the verification of ownership and settling of accounts can be done directly between participants (as is done with Bitcoin trades). This is much simpler, faster and more secure.
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Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-holding-up-the-blockchain-79038" target="_blank">What’s holding up the blockchain?</a>
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<h2>A monumental shift</h2>
The fact that the ASX’s blockchain announcement made headlines <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42261456" target="_blank">around the world</a> shows what a big leap forward this is.
The ASX’s blockchain will streamline the settlement process, improving productivity and therefore reducing costs in the Australian stock market. This means that our financial markets will work better, offering an immediate benefit to Australia’s economy.
Exchanges are also a global business, and the adoption of blockchain technology in Australia’s major exchange means that it has a competitive edge over other exchanges.
Companies choose where to list, based on a variety of factors including the quality of the exchange technology. More business for the ASX will translate into more local jobs.
One potential downside of the ASX adopting the blockchain, however, is that some workers who currently process settlements on the ASX may lose their jobs. Some financial companies that currently benefit from the slow settlement process, such as brokerage firms, will also lose out.
<hr>
Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/blockchain-really-only-does-one-thing-well-62668" target="_blank">Blockchain really only does one thing well</a>
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But the ASX’s move is just scratching the surface of what blockchain technology can do to the Australian financial sector.
The same argument that applies to the ASX - that the blockchain is more efficient and productive than existing record-keeping and transaction processes - can also be extended to other exchanges, such as bond markets.
In other words, the ASX’s blockchain is just the beginning of a technological transformation of Australia’s financial markets.
Blockchains will also make these exchanges more attractive to build services on, such as for managing wealth. This is a further benefit for consumers and the broader finance industry, not purely from lower prices also from the possibility of new products and services.
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Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-blockchain-does-not-eliminate-the-need-for-trust-86481" target="_blank">The blockchain does not eliminate the need for trust</a>
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But how is any of this even possible in the first place? Part of the credit must go to Australian regulators. They created the environment for this huge shift in technological practice.
Australia is now leading the adoption of the blockchain, despite it being a US-built technology. It is similar to how African telecommunications companies are <a href="https://www.safaricom.co.ke/personal/m-pesa" target="_blank">leading the way in mobile payments</a>, even though Finland created modern mobile phones with companies like Nokia.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88937/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Even if you’re not excited about new technology in the Australian finance industry, its global competitiveness, or even our regulatory agility, the ASX announcement is a harbinger of what adoption of blockchain technology will increasingly look like.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-potts-105412" target="_blank">Jason Potts</a>, Professor of Economics, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063" target="_blank">RMIT University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/bitcoin-may-be-reaching-new-heights-but-the-asx-shows-the-blockchain-is-reinventing-business-88937" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Bitcoin may be reaching new heights, but the ASX shows the blockchain is reinventing business

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The Australian Securities Exchange has asked around 50 listed Chinese companies if they were facing problems in capital transfers into or out of China, following the trading suspension of one such company.
Chinese company Ding Sheng Xin Finance suspended trading on August 29, failing to meet its August 31 deadline to lodge its half-year results and did not give any reason as well.
While the market regulator did not identify the specific company involved or its issues, Ding Sheng Xin Finance’s trading suspension led the ASX to seek assurance on whether other Chinese companies had any in problem in funds transfers.
Ding Sheng Xin chairman Winton Willesee did not directly confirm the reason for the delayed accounts but told The Australian Financial Review "of late lots of companies are having that problem" of repatriating funds from China.
The ASX has asked each potentially affected company whether it "has any difficulties in repatriating money/converting Chinese RMB into foreign currencies".
It has also asked whether the company "is aware of any changes to laws in China that prohibit the repatriation of money/conversion of Chinese RMB into foreign currencies?"
The Chinese companies are operating in a variety of sectors, from finance, to resources, to agriculture and property.
The few companies to respond so far, such as developer Boyuan Holdings, have not reported issues with capital transfers.
"The company has had no difficulties repatriating money or converting money into foreign currencies," developer Boyuan Holdings said on Monday.
Boyuan was the first Chinese real estate company to list on the ASX and is an offshoot of the Hong Kong-listed Jiayuan and its seed asset is the Jiayuan Central Plaza Project in Jiaxing City in China.
An ASX spokesman was cited by the AFR as saying that the inquiry was a "precautionary step to help ensure the market is kept informed".
"By asking companies to clarify their position, ASX and investors can assess if the issue is isolated or widespread," an ASX spokesman said.
"Based on the responses released to the market thus far, it appears the funding concerns are specific to one company that is already suspended. But we'll continue to monitor."
The development comes amid the Chinese government’s recent guidelines to curb outbound spending. The Chinese government has put curbs on purchases of real estate and entertainment assets by Chinese companies and investors, a decision which could affect Australia’s real estate market.
The restrictions follows recent moves by Beijing to halt state banks lending to the Dalian Wanda Group, which has recently been forced to restructure its assets in Australia, namely the $2 billion worth of projects in Sydney and the Gold Coast.
Hotels, sporting teams, cinemas and the broader entertainment sector were on the restricted list, while investments in casinos and defence technology were banned.
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ASX asks 50 Chinese companies on any capital transfers problem

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Property valuation firm LandMark White Limited (LMW) has acquired rival MVS National, with the combined entity to create the largest ASX-listed valuation services business.
The combined entity will operate under the LMW brand it will have 300 employees, including 100 staff from LMW that are based in Western Australia.
“The merging of LMW and MVS helps accelerate our expansion strategy in the national services market and allows us to build on the success and strength of both organisations,” LMW chief executive Chris Coonan said.
MVS provides property valuation services to the residential, commercial and government sectors.
LandMark White earlier said in an ASX announcement that it had raised $10 million through a right issue and placement for the acquisition.
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Property valuation firm LandMark White acquires rival MVS National 

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Shares in high-profile real estate agency McGrath are trading at new lows.
The Thursday close was 59 cents, having traded at 58 cents.
Real estate agent McGrath, whose shares plummeted to a record low, has dismissed reports that it was facing an exodus by its franchisees.
McGrath shares fell on Thursday to 58 cents, after rumours spread about five franchisees leaving the company, prompting a compliance query from the Australian Stock Exchange.
They opened 2017 at 90 cents, then fell in January this year after it signalled weak revenues.
The company has previously blamed the summer defection of a number of high-profile agents in part for for its woes.
McGrath also said the "unprecedented low volumes of listings" had emerged as high prices had discouraged some sellers from putting properties on the market, fearing that prices could rise too far before they could acquire their next property.
The shares were $2.10 when it went public.
In December 215 McGrath, Australia's first real estate agency to list on the stock exchange, fell 8.6 percent from its initial public offering price on debut.
The shares have never traded above $2.10.
The latest share price movement comes as CoreLogic foreshadowed April housing market results will show regulatory measures have had a dampening effect on housing market conditions. 
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