By Ernie B. Calucag Small businesses in Singapore and Malaysia are feeling less confident given uncertainties in the domestic and global economies, according to the latest Sage Business Index survey. Business confidence in both countries dropped more than five points from six months ago to 64.15 index value in March 2012, a sign that business...

By Jared Heng More than three quarters of employers in Singapore’s banking and financial services sector are worried about losing their top staff to a competitor offering more pay, according to findings by recruitment firm Robert Half. Released in partnership with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS), the Singapore findings are based...

by Ernie B. Calucag The undersea cable unit of India’s Reliance Communications and Formula One have started transactions that could potentially raise a combined US$3.4 billion in Singapore IPO this year, sources revealed Tuesday. The unit of Reliance Communications has received “in principle” approval from the Singapore stock exchange for its US$1.4-billion share sale, Reuters...

by Jared Heng   Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) has announced plans to put 320 megahertz (Mhz) of fourth-generation (4G) spectrum up for auction in 2013. The move comes at a time when mobile data traffic is projected to increase exponentially over the next few years. There is also the reported possibility that 4G technology...

by Ernie B. Calucag Mainboard-listed Chinese multimedia firm KXD Digital Entertainment Ltd said that its interim judicial managers plan to step down and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) had asked it to start delisting procedures as soon as possible. “The company or its controlling shareholder must comply with rule 1309 of the listing manual to provide...

by Ernie B. Calucag The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is seeking a court order to freeze the funds of Huang Zhong Xuan, the former chief executive officer of China Sky Chemical Fibre Co, which is being probed for regulatory breaches, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The financial watchdog wants to restrain Huang, a Chinese national,...

by Jared Heng Singapore Exchange (SGX) is consulting the public on proposed rule changes to enhance the regulatory framework for direct access to its securities market, in preparation for the ASEAN Trading Link. The ASEAN Trading Link will provide brokers of participating ASEAN exchanges with the infrastructure to input orders directly on another participating ASEAN...

by Ernie B. Calucag The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is expected to keep monetary policy on hold and retain its bias for a “modest and gradual” appreciation of Singapore dollar when it issues its half-yearly monetary policy statement on Friday, economists said. While they predict stronger economic output going forward, economists said inflation concerns...

by Ernie B. Calucag An environment of high liquidity and low interest rates will keep demand for private homes healthy in the next few months, which means higher sales for private property developers, real estate consultancy firm CBRE said Thursday. Robust response to selected new projects sent new private homes sales volume soaring to 5,200...

by Jared Heng Singapore Exchange (SGX) Thursday announced that Taiwan-based KGI Futures Co, Ltd has joined its derivatives market as a new Trading Member. Chew Sutat, Head of Sales & Clients at SGX, said: “We are pleased to welcome KGI Futures as a new Trading Member. In recent months, a number of brokers from North...

by Jared Heng Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) derivatives trading continued to grow in March, but securities market activity declined. The daily average volume of derivatives grew 9 per cent to 353,683 contracts, compared with February, but slid 7 per cent year-on-year. China A50 futures volume more than tripled to 661,587 contracts from a year earlier, while...

by Ernie B. Calucag Singapore and Vietnam have agreed to expand the scope of economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of modern services and commodities trading, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said Wednesday. “Vietnam’s economy will continue to grow as it enhances its connectivity to the world. Beyond physical air and sea linkages, such...