June was the best performing month in terms of home sales since the property market tumbled last September, according to numbers released by the URA on Tuesday. Altogether, 801 private homes were sold, a jump of 80 per cent from May. But there were also more units launched. The number of units launched in June leapt 125 per cent from May to 1,069 units, meaning that there were more unsold properties in...

Residents living in the north-western part of Singapore can look forward to faster and more direct access to the city centre, when construction of Stage Two of the Downtown Line rail network is completed in 2015. The 16.6 kilometre-long line comprises one depot at Gali Batu and 12 stations stretching from Rochor, along Bukit Timah Road and Bukit Panjang, to Petir. It will have three interchange stations...

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has praised Singapore for having one of the most open and competitive economies in the world. The accolade was contained in the ongoing trade policy review by both the WTO secretariat and members. The report on Singapore's economy policy, released on Monday, was prepared as part of the WTO's Trade Policy Review, of which Singapore is participating for the fifth time. It...

Inflation is soaring in Vietnam, and that's driving up overall business costs there. Despite this, Keppel Land said it will not have any impact on its property projects in the country in the short term. In a filing with the Singapore Exchange, the property developer said its joint ventures with strong local partners in Vietnam is helping the company to manage its cash flows. It is also forming...

An elegant estate for the most discerning of home owners, Goodwood Residence promises to usher in new benchmarks in sophisticated luxury, all in the quiet, green surrounds of Goodwood Hill. Goodwood Residence, just off the Orchard / Scotts Road area, shares a boundary of approximately 150 metres with Goodwood Hill, allowing residents to live near almost 20 hectares of greenery - a rarity in urbanised...

The Urban and Redevelopment Authority has won an international award for its master-planning efforts for the Bras Basah-Bugis district. Dubbed as an enclave for arts, culture, learning and entertainment, the 95-hectare district was conferred the Award for Excellence 2008 in Asia Pacific by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) - an international, non-profit education and research institute. The award is widely...

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says Singapore is facing its most promising decade ahead. He expects the economy to grow by up to 7 or 8 per cent over the next few years, barring a global economic downturn. He was speaking at a dialogue session organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Economics Society of Singapore (ESS) on Friday. Mr Lee told his 800-strong audience of industry...

The coming decade could be the most promising for Singapore, says Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. But to achieve progress, Singapore must have a top-class government. Mr Lee shared his views about Singapore's growth and challenges during a dialogue session hosted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Economics Society of Singapore (ESS) on Friday. Barring any serious global recession, Mr Lee...

Mapletree Investments on Friday said that it has started the construction of a 10-hectare logistics park in Malaysia. The Shah Alam Logistics Park is expected to be completed early next year and be mostly pre-leased to logistics operators. It will have 60,000 square metres of gross floor area in three single-storey warehouses with mezzanine offices. When completed, the project is estimated to have a...

Head of property developer SC Global still bullish on the local real estate market JUDGING from recent transactions, property prices appear to have hit or are near the floor, according to Mr Simon Cheong, the president of the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (Redas). As evidence, Mr Cheong, the head of high-end property developer SC Global, points to recent transactions of luxury...