Challenger Diversified Property Group has booked a net loss of $58.6m for the December half year.

Steep asset write-downs helped plunge it into the red

The group, run by the James Packer-backed Challenger Financial Services, said it was likely to record a similar result for the full year. It dropped its full year distribution guidance to 6.7c per unit after forecasting 7.5c in August.

The loss compares with a $50.18m net profit in the previous corresponding period.

The Australian