The Leading Professional and Representative Body for the Real Estate Industry

The Leading Professional and Representative Body for the Real Estate Industry

DAILY NEWS

 

Daily News – 23rd March 2017

Singapore Economy

Innovation, ecosystem support key to startup growth, job creation
Innovation and ecosystem support positively impact startup growth and job creation in Singapore, according to a new National University of Singapore (NUS) study, findings of which were exclusively presented at The Business Times Leaders’ Forum 2017 on Wednesday.  Titled “Growth and Job Creation Dynamics of High-tech Startups in Singapore”, the study polled 530 local tech startups between May and December last year.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/technology/innovation-ecosystem-support-key-to-startup-growth-job-creation

Disruption response: Singapore can do much more
Most local business leaders believe that Singapore companies and the government still have a ways to go in responding to disruption.  It is a phenomenon they are mindful of, one through which new technologies can either trigger economic displacement or create opportunities for entirely new economic sectors to emerge. 
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/disruption-response-singapore-can-do-much-more
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/government-can-help-but-firms-workers-need-to-do-their-part

 

Singapore Real Estate

Hong Leong Finance rolls out loan scheme to help retirees monetise private homes
Hong Leong Finance on Wednesday said it is rolling out a new loan programme that provides flexibility to help retirees monetise their private home properties.  Called “Mortgage Equity@50”, the new loan programme is launched in the wake of the government’s recent relaxation of the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) framework for mortgage equity withdrawal loans with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of 50 per cent and below.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/hong-leong-finance-rolls-out-loan-scheme-to-help-retirees-monetise-private-homes
http://www.straitstimes.com/business/property/hlf-targets-asset-rich-retirees-with-new-term-loan?login=true

16 hotels to take part in new Lean Hotel Initiative to boost productivity
A total of 16 hotels in Singapore are set to participate in the new Lean Hotel Initiative, which was launched on Wednesday (Mar 22).  The initiative, which is a collaboration between Workforce Singapore (WSG) and global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, is a four-month programme that aims to help hotels achieve higher productivity and sustainable growth with transformation projects.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/16-hotels-to-take-part-in-new-lean-hotel-initiative-to-boost/3615624.html

Tenants of The Quadrant in rare bid to conserve building
Most building conservation efforts in Singapore are led by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), which decides what to add to the country’s stable of 7,000-plus protected structures.  In a rare case, a group of heritage enthusiasts, including executives from a property company, banded together to have the building they rent – The Quadrant in Cecil Street – gazetted for conservation by the URA. 
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/rare-bid-by-tenants-to-conserve-building

Investigative works for Cross Island Line begin
Works to see if the future Cross Island MRT line will be built under Singapore’s largest nature reserve have started.  Due to start last December, the investigation works, to determine the soil and rock profile under the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, began last month. They were delayed because of “extensive discussions” between the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and National Parks Board on measures to reduce the environmental impact of the works, said LTA geotechnical and tunnels deputy director Goh Kok Hun.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/investigative-works-for-cross-island-line-begin

 

Companies’ Brief

PM Lee opens Mapletree’s first office development in Vietnam
The Saigon South Place Complex in Ho Chi Minh City, one of Mapletree Investment’s landmark mixed-use developments in Vietnam, had a special guest, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on Wednesday.  His first stop of the day was to officially declare open the new Mapletree Business Centre, a 17-storey office tower that counts the likes of British bank Standard Chartered among its tenants.  This office tower is Singapore-based Mapletree’s first office development in Vietnam, and marks the completion of the second phase of the 4.4-hectare Saigon South Place Complex in Ho Chi Minh City’s affluent District 7.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/pm-lee-opens-mapletrees-first-office-development-in-vietnam
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/pm-lee-opens-mapletree-business-centre-in-ho-chi-minh-city
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pm-lee-opens-mapletree-business-centre-in-ho-chi-minh-city/3615864.html
http://www.todayonline.com/business/mapletree-opens-first-office-development-vietnam

Surbana ties up with China firm for project design, consultancy
Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd has partnered China Highway Engineering Consulting Corporation to provide design and consultancy services for highway and municipal projects.  Their joint venture (JV), China Highway-Surbana Jurong Transportation Design and Research Co Ltd (China Highway-SJ), is 51 per cent owned by China Highway and 49 per cent held by Surbana Jurong. 
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/surbana-ties-up-with-china-firm-for-project-design-consultancy
http://www.straitstimes.com/business/surbana-in-china-highway-tie-up-to-offer-project-services

 

Global Economy & Global Real Estate

US existing home sales fall from 10-year high
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/us-existing-home-sales-fall-from-10-year-high

Hot US real estate a potential red flag -Fed’s Rosengren
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/hot-us-real-estate-a-potential-red-flag-feds-rosengren

Kiddie activity hubs seen as way to make malls amazon-proof
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/kiddie-activity-hubs-seen-as-way-to-make-malls-amazon-proof

No buyers for New Jersey’s most expensive house
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/no-buyers-for-new-jerseys-most-expensive-house

UK property brokers bracing for the worst amid headwinds
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/uk-property-brokers-bracing-for-the-worst-amid-headwinds

China developers’ 2016 profit up amid lingering bubble worries
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/china-developers-2016-profit-up-amid-lingering-bubble-worries

China home-buyers fret over prices
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/china-home-buyers-fret-over-prices

Airbnb doubles its investment to woo China
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/airbnb-doubles-its-investment-to-woo-china

Li Ka-shing’s main companies to increase dividend payments
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/li-ka-shings-main-companies-to-increase-dividend-payments

Li Ka-Shing signals Hong Kong property rebound could last years
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/li-ka-shing-signals-hong-kong-property-rebound-could-last-years
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/li-ka-shing-signals-hong-kong-property-rebound-could-last-years

Cheung Kong Property posts 16% rise in 2016 core profit
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/cheung-kong-property-posts-16-rise-in-2016-core-profit

Digital free trade zone deal paves way for KL to be Alibaba’s regional distribution hub
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/digital-free-trade-zone-deal-paves-way-for-kl-to-be-alibabas-regional
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/alibaba-setting-up-logistics-hub-in-kl?login=true
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/alibaba-to-set-up-logistics-hub-in-malaysia-s-new-digital-free/3616222.html

Myanmar Luxury Property Hampered by Confusion Over Law on Foreign Buyers
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/myanmar-luxury-property-reels-from-confusion-over-foreign-buyers
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/myanmar-luxury-property-reels-from-confusion-over-foreign-buyers

 

Additional Articles of Interest – Local & Overseas Real Estate

Local & Overseas Real Estate – Full Article
http://business.asiaone.com/property/news
http://www.btinvest.com.sg/property
http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/market-news
http://www.srx.com.sg/singapore-property-news
http://www.stproperty.sg/articles-property/singapore-property-news/c/11
http://www.theedgeproperty.com.sg/property-news

 

Scroll to Top