Retail Market Outlook - The retail market in Hong Kong is expected to remain stable in the first half of 2025, with improvements in local consumption and tourist traffic anticipated in the second half [1] - Demand for retail leasing will continue to be dominated by food and beverage operators, particularly brands targeting the mass and mid-market segments [1] - The vacancy rate in core areas decreased by 0.7 percentage points to 7.1%, leading to a quarterly rental increase of 0.9%, consistent with the first quarter of 2025, resulting in a total rental growth of 1.9% for the first half of the year [2] Industrial and Logistics Sector - Despite a cautious market sentiment, demand for high-spec metal storage warehouses is expected to rise, with warehouse rents projected to decline by 0-5% in 2025 [1] - The industrial and logistics sector is experiencing a significant drop in leasing demand due to geopolitical tensions and unclear trade policies, leading to an increase in available space and a quarterly rental decline of 0.8%, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of decline [2] - The warehouse vacancy rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 10.3% by the end of the first half of 2025 [2] Capital Market Insights - Investors are generally adopting a cautious wait-and-see approach amid ongoing economic headwinds, with limited support from the reduction in HIBOR [3] - There are signs of market stabilization, particularly with a noticeable increase in inquiries from self-use buyers as capital values continue to decline and borrowing costs decrease [3] - Following the government's announcement of a pilot program for converting hotels into student dormitories, interest from hotel and office owners in related opportunities is expected to rise [3]