‘Read Econmic News Together’ Series
Aberdeen Property Fund lifts suspension

Aberdeen Asset Management has announced that it has lifted the trading suspension on its U.K. Property Fund and Property Feeder Unit Trust, a move put in place last week to protect investors from the growing number of redemption requests in the wake of a Brexit vote.

The company has however put in place a fairvalue  adjustment of 7 percent on property holdings.

"Investors should be aware that the price may be adjusted on a daily basis to reflect the funds' requirement to provide liquidity and the need to protect all investors," Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management said in a press statement.

"The market may take time to find its level but I have no doubt that property will continue to play an important partin investors' portfolios."

Once the suspension is removed, investors are free to submit their trades but this would be processed at a diluted price that reflects the current market environment, keeping in mind that short-termsales in the property market may have relatively penal consequences, the company said in a statement.

"Any uncancelled orders for subscriptions and redemptions in the funds placed between 12 noon on 5 July and12 noon on 6 July 2016 will now be processed at the diluted price as at noon 13 July 2016."

Brexit hits commercial property

Seven investment firms halted trading intheir property funds after receiving high demand from investors to cash in their investments due to volatile market conditions in the wake of the U.K.'s vote to leave the European Union. They included Aberdeen Asset Management,Standard Life, Aviva, M&G Investments, Henderson Global Investors, ColumbiaThreadneedle and Canada Life. All the funds were open-ended with exposure to commercial property.

"U.K. commercial property has been at the epicenter of market reaction since the 23 June U.K. referendum decision to leave the EU," Stephen Jones, Chief Investment Officer at Kames Capitalsaid in a research note.

He explained that in the midst of near term uncertainty, investors and commentators have not had a concrete strategy to assess the value of buildings given the generally assumed deterioration in the economic outlook for the economy.

"As a consequence several real estate investment funds have suspended dealing having seen investors rush to remove investments. It is important though to keep perspective, or to quote Kipling "to keep your head when all about you are losing theirs."