THE collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings may contribute to an easing of demand for prime office space in Singapore, where commercial rents are already peaking amid slowing economic growth, property consultants said. The market turmoil that this week also forced the sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America and a bailout of American International Group will probably further slow expansion by international...
Office Space
Australian companies BHP Billiton and Macquarie Group have been confirmed as the newest tenants of Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC). Mining firm BHP Billiton and banking giant Macquarie will take up 142,000 and 74,000 sq feet of space respectively in Tower 1 of the office building at downtown Marina, said Raffles Quay Asset Management, which manages MBFC, in a statement. Both firms will take 10-year...
The Marina Bay Financial Centre has leased out over 65 per cent of its space, even though it is two years away from completion. Two of Australia's biggest companies are the latest to lease space at the centre. The Macquarie Group and BHP Billiton are taking up more than 216,000 sq ft of office space. They will be there for 10 years, with options to renew and expand. Software development firm, Murex...
Singapore has recorded robust demand in the office sector for the first six months of this year. According to a mid-year review by Colliers International, the Singapore office sector has seen high rents and low vacancy rates, with office occupancy costs the third highest in the Asia-Pacific region. On average, annual Grade A office rents in Singapore fetched US$125.06 per square foot - behind Hong Kong...
DESPITE the sluggish economy, downtown office rentals show no sign of budging from high, with multi-nationals seemingly largely unfazed by top dollar demands for prime space. Yesterday, office landlord CapitaCommercial Trust (CCT) announced that mining giant BHP Billiton had renewed its lease at Capital Towers, while JPMorgan Chase expanded its premises by one-and-a-half floors in the same...
To instil greater discipline in the holding of government properties pending development, the Law Ministry plans to introduce a reservation framework for public sector agencies. Senior Minister of State for Finance Lim Hwee Hua told the House that agencies making such reservations would have to pay for planning and feasibility studies. Responding to a question by Nominated MP Gautam Banerjee on what is...
With no new major buildings yet completed, supply of office space continues to be tight in the Central Business District (CBD). In the wake of unceasing uncertainties in the wider economy and high office rentals, more companies are adopting a cautious business approach, gravitating towards cheaper premises like decentralised office buildings, industrial properties, business parks and disused State...
Rising inflation, shrinking exports and flagging economic growth have dampened business confidence across Asia and slowed prime office rent growth. CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) said on Tuesday, in its second quarter office market report for the Asia-Pacific region, that top financial and professional services firms have begun to slow their expansion in the region. Potential corporate occupiers have become...
SINGAPORE’S booming office market is facing a drop in demand and a slowdown in rents that have left many wondering: What happens next, when a host of new developments are launched? Tight supply and high demand, mostly from financial institutions, made Singapore the ninth most expensive office market in the world, ahead of rival Hong Kong, according to property consultant CB Richard Ellis. Rents nearly...
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has awarded the first two sites for transitional office space this year. One of the most keenly-watched sites was the former Home Affairs Ministry complex at Phoenix Park. The parcel was awarded to LHN Facilities Management, which will pay S$368,888 in rent per month. 11 bids were received for the Phoenix Park site, 10 of which were above the guide rent of S$165,000...