Realty sector likely to remain under strain

Cash flow, struggling sales and high debt levels will continue to be the main issues facing Chinese property developers going into 2015, according to market analysts, who still fear that despite monetary easing policies by the People's Bank of China, many firms will continue to find problems raising funds.

Experts say that companies will have to significantly reduce debt and improve sales to improve valuation, given moribund market conditions being felt in second-tier cities.

Hong Kong-listed H shares of Chinese mainland property companies are trading at an average price earnings ratio of 5.7 times on prospective 2015 earnings, which is much lower than the market average PE of mainboard-listed H shares trading at 10.7 times.