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 17, 18 &19 May 2025 (Sat, Sun & Mon)

Singapore Real Estate / Built Environment

 

JTC to reclaim about 49 ha of land off Lorong Halus to meet future demand

About 49 hectares (ha) of land will be reclaimed in the waters off Lorong Halus in Pasir Ris by industrial developer JTC to meet future needs, including for industrial use, The Straits Times has learnt.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/jtc-reclaim-about-49-ha-land-lorong-halus-meet-future-demand

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/jtc-plans-to-reclaim-about-49ha-land-off-lorong-halus-to-meet-future-demand

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250516-6394986

 

Duxton Reserve hotel sold to Lotus One Investment for S$80 million

Duxton Reserve, a 49-key boutique hotel in Tanjong Pagar, has been sold by Singapore-based hospitality company The Garcha Group to a family office for S$80 million, or about S$1.63 million per key.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/duxton-reserve-hotel-sold-lotus-one-investment-s80-million

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/singapore/story20250516-6396161

 

Fewer property flippers in condo sub-sale market, but deals in Q1 still ‘highly profitable’

Sub-sale volumes in Singapore’s private housing market – where buyers can “flip” a new unit before the project is completed – are on the decline, with speculative buying dampened by cooling measures and wider economic uncertainty now exacerbated by tariff-induced volatility.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/fewer-property-flippers-condo-sub-sale-market-deals-q1-still-highly-profitable

 

 

Singapore News

 

Singapore may get preferential tariff or exemption for pharmaceutical exports in US trade talks: DPM Gan

There is a prospect that Singapore’s pharmaceutical exports to the United States may be tariff-free, based on ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-may-get-preferential-tariff-or-exemption-pharmaceutical-exports-us-trade-talks-dpm-gan

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/zero-tariffs-on-pharma-exports-being-discussed-in-spore-us-trade-talks-gan-kim-yong

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/us-tariffs-singapore-gan-kim-yong-pharmaceutical-concession-5134461

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250517-6400515

 

Changes to Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce members possible after Cabinet reshuffle: DPM Gan

Adjustments may be made to the composition of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce when the new Cabinet line-up is announced, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is widely expected to announce changes to his Cabinet soon, following the May 3 General Election.

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/changes-to-singapore-economic-resilience-taskforce-members-possible-after-cabinet-reshuffle-dpm-gan

 

New campaign to urge S’pore home, business, building owners to set air-cons at 25 deg C

A new campaign to urge home, business and building owners to turn up their thermostats was launched on May 16. Called the Go 25 movement, it encourages Singapore residents to set the indoor air-conditioning temperature in their homes, offices and buildings at 25 deg C. The campaign is an initiative housed under Go Green SG 2025.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/go-25-movement-to-spur-sustainable-cooling-launched-in-tandem-with-go-green-sg-2025

 

 

Business News

 

More attractive land prices for Singapore tenders ahead, says Citi, giving its top developer pick

More attractive land prices could be on the horizon for eight upcoming government tenders from May to September this year, in support of developers’ land replenishment exercises, said Citi equity research analyst Brandon Lee in his Thursday (May 15) report.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/more-attractive-land-prices-singapore-tenders-ahead-says-citi-giving-its-top-developer-pick

 

Citi to cut up to 200 tech contractor roles in China

Citigroup is cutting up to 200 information technology (IT) contractor roles in China, two people familiar with the matter said, as the bank looks to hire its own staff globally for such operations to improve risk management and data governance.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/banking-finance/citi-cut-200-tech-contractor-roles-china

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/citi-to-cut-up-to-200-tech-contractor-roles-in-china-sources-say

 

FCT to draw on additional debt financing to fund Northpoint City acquisition

The acquisition of Northpoint City’s south wing may be financed either with or without the issuance of perpetual securities, said the manager of Frasers Centrepoint Trust (FCT) in a bourse filing on Saturday (May 17).

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/fct-draw-additional-debt-financing-fund-northpoint-city-acquisition

 

Shares of Ong Beng Seng’s HPL jump over 9%; company says it’s unaware of reason for intraday spike

Shares of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) rose as much as 9.3 per cent to $4.72 in morning trading on May 16, prompting a query from Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo).

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/shares-of-ong-beng-sengs-hpl-jump-more-than-9-prompting-sgx-query

 

No plans for layoffs; HK$1.5 billion investment in Greater China to continue: OCBC’s Helen Wong

OCBC has no plans to implement “major” layoffs despite macroeconomic uncertainties arising from US tariffs, said the bank’s group chief executive officer Helen Wong on Friday (May 16). “We’re growing, so why would we be thinking about letting people go?” she said.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/no-plans-layoffs-hk1-5-billion-investment-greater-china-continue-ocbcs-helen-wong

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/ocbc-sees-strong-trade-flows-between-greater-china-and-asean-despite-tariff-uncertainties

 

Offeror says Sinarmas Land offer price is final, extends offer period to Jun 2

Lyon Investments said on Sunday (May 18) that its offer price of S$0.375 per share of Singapore-listed property developer Sinarmas Land is final, and that it does not intend to revise the current offer price. It will also extend the closing date of the offer from May 29 to Jun 2, 5.30pm.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/offeror-says-sinarmas-land-offer-price-final-extends-offer-period-jun-2

 

 

Global Economy / Real Estate News

 

Trump says US will set tariff rates for other nations in weeks

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/trump-says-us-will-set-tariff-rates-other-nations-weeks

 

Trump’s tariff tide lifts Asean ports again – some more than others

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/trumps-tariff-tide-lifts-asean-ports-again-some-more-others

 

US import prices unexpectedly rise in April

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/us-import-prices-unexpectedly-rise-april

 

Price hikes are beginning to threaten the American consumer

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/price-hikes-are-beginning-threaten-american-consumer

 

Voice of America building latest federal property up for sale

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/voice-america-building-latest-federal-property-sale

 

Pan Pacific Hotels upgrades its Perth property as it eyes Australia’s growing Mice industry

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/property/pan-pacific-hotels-upgrades-its-perth-property-as-it-eyes-australias-growing-mice-industry

 

China-US trade truce prompts nations to consider tougher tactics

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/china-us-trade-truce-prompts-nations-consider-tougher-tactics

 

Tariff cuts ease mass China layoffs threat, but job market pain persists

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/tariff-cuts-ease-mass-china-layoffs-threat-job-market-pain-persists

 

Timing not right yet for overhaul of China home sales market: state media

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/timing-not-right-yet-overhaul-china-home-sales-market-state-media

 

Some China companies eyeing Singapore listings to expand markets amid trade war: sources

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/some-china-companies-eyeing-singapore-listings-expand-markets-amid-trade-war-sources

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/some-chinese-companies-eye-singapore-listings-to-expand-markets-amid-trade-war

 

Dubai’s red-hot real estate attracts big name backers, including Mapletree

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/dubais-red-hot-real-estate-attracts-big-name-backers-including-mapletree

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/dubais-red-hot-real-estate-attracts-big-name-backers-including-temasek-linked-mapletree

 

Hong Kong economy expands 3.1% in Q1

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hong-kong-economy-expands-3-1-q1

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/hong-kong-economy-expands-31-first-quarter-5134596

 

US importers urging Hong Kong manufacturers ‘to bypass levies’ amid trade war

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310834/us-importers-urging-hong-kong-manufacturers-bypass-levies-amid-trade-war

 

Hong Kong will weather tariff storm, finance chief says, touting ‘brisk’ IPO market

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310792/hong-kongs-ipo-market-brisk-despite-ongoing-us-china-trade-tensions-paul-chan

 

Hong Kong seeks to turn To Kwa Wan into ‘world-class’ cove for dining, concerts

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310814/hong-kongs-kwa-wan-be-transformed-world-class-cove-dining-concerts

 

Mainland Chinese retailers take advantage of falling rents to expand Hong Kong presence

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3310702/mainland-chinese-retailers-take-advantage-falling-rents-expand-hong-kong-presence

 

Hong Kong property: new pricing weighs on home market as tariff war hurts demand

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3310794/hong-kong-property-new-pricing-weighs-home-market-tariff-war-hurts-demand

 

Distressed Hong Kong builder Parkview gets private loan from PAG

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/distressed-hong-kong-builder-parkview-gets-private-loan-pag

 

Buyers snap up all of SHKP’s Sierra Sea flats on sale as hot streak continues

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3310805/buyers-snap-73-shkps-sierra-sea-flats-sale-hot-streak-continues

 

Malaysia’s Q1 GDP growth meets expectation, but outlook remains clouded by external risks

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysias-q1-gdp-growth-meets-expectation-outlook-remains-clouded-external-risks

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/malaysias-economy-grows-44-q1-5134131

 

Malaysia committed to 2025 petrol subsidy cut but no fixed date

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysia-committed-2025-petrol-subsidy-cut-no-fixed-date

 

Thai construction magnate surrenders on felony negligence charges over building collapse in quake

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/mar-28-earthquake-thailand-building-collapse-construction-magnate-surrenders-5134186

 

UK and EU poised to grasp post-Brexit reset as talks go to wire

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/uk-and-eu-poised-grasp-post-brexit-reset-talks-go-wire

 

 

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Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions therein. The content, accuracy, and opinions expressed are not investigated, verified, monitored, nor endorsed by REDAS. Every effort is taken to ensure that all information extracted is correct at the time of dissemination.

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