The Singapore government will roll out public sector projects worth up to S$50 million each from the middle of this year. It had earlier deferred projects amounting to S$4.7 billion to ease pressure on the construction sector. The government said the upcoming projects are expected to attract small and medium-sized contractors. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: "The big contractors have...
2009
Real estate giant CapitaLand saved some S$1.5 million last year by reducing its electricity and water consumption. The green efforts were carried out across 23 properties such as its retail malls and office buildings. The amount of electricity saved can power about 13,000 five-room HDB flats for one month, while the amount of water saved can fill 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Last year, CapitaLand...
Mainboard-listed UOL Group has made a takeover bid for United Industrial Corp (UIC). UOL is paying S$1.20 per share - valuing UIC at S$1.6 billion. The move comes after UOL's shareholding in UIC crossed the 30 per cent mark. Under listing rules, this means it has to make a general offer for the remaining shares. UOL's bid for UIC has revived long-time rivalries between United Overseas Bank Chairman Wee...
Asian economies, excluding Japan, are expected to grow a weighted 5.5 per cent this year - down from the 7 per cent growth seen in 2008. HSBC said this slide will be led by Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, while countries like China and India will be the main supports of growth. Falling demand from most developed nations in the wake of the global downturn has hit economic growth in Asia. But...
As Singapore retains its title as the world’s second freest economy, its reputation as one of the world’s most flexible labour markets is also gaining ground. Going by the latest data from a United States think-tank, on matters of labour freedom, the Republic scores 98.1 — trumping even Hong Kong, the world’s reigning freest economy. According to The Heritage Foundation, flexible rules mean "the...
The tender for the former Mee Toh School on No.375 Race Course Road has attracted an overwhelming 20 bids. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) put the land up for tender under the "Ideas Tender Scheme" last month. Under the scheme, bidders are allowed to submit alternative bids for innovative uses for the property. The 20 bids were by 14 bidders and Cambridge Institute Pte Ltd had the highest bid of...
Singapore-listed construction firm Lian Beng has posted a nine per cent increase in its first half net profit. Net earnings for the six months ended November rose to S$8.8 million from S$8.1 million a year ago. This was on the back of a 42 per cent jump in revenues to S$151 million on progress made in various construction projects. Lian Beng said demand for construction services has softened amid the...
It should be more sensitive to tough economic times BUSINESSES big and small are being ravaged by the global economic downturn, with firms here down on their knees pleading for all the help that they can get, from cash to measures that will help them reduce their costs. The Government has recognised their plight and has promised help. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Government would help workers...
Today reporters were offered discounts and freebies to sweeten the deal BARELY an hour into the showflat tour, the senior executive of a property consultancy firm, brokering a private condominium, decided it was time to reveal his trump card. “Don’t say I said it,” he said, almost whispering, as he pushed across the table to us a piece of paper with a blow-by-blow breakdown of his offer. The latest...
More people are looking to refinance their home loans in the past few months with lower interest rates, but not without difficulties. Key benchmark interest rates have been dropping since governments around the world embarked on their rate cutting campaign a few months ago to revive the slumping economy. As a result, the Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (SIBOR) has more than halved in the past three to...