S-REITs Dominate Cross-border Acquisitions in 2011
by Jared Heng Singapore real estate investment trusts (S-REITs) continued to dominate cross-border acquisitions within Asia in 2011, according to a report by real estate consultancy CBRE. The report noted that S-REITs invested S$2.51 billion (about US$2 billion) abroad in 2011, with the vast majority of capital targeted at China. This was similar to 2010...
Most Singapore Employers to Raise Salaries: Survey
by Jared Heng Almost a quarter, or 23 per cent, of Singapore employers surveyed plan to increase salaries by 6 per cent or more when they next review, according to the 2012 Hays Salary Guide. The guide also noted that 50 per cent of Singapore employers expect to raise salaries between 3 and 6 per...
MF Global Singapore Resigns from SGX
by Jared Heng Singapore Exchange (SGX) Tuesday announced that it has accepted the resignation of MF Global Singapore Pte Ltd (MF Global) as a Member of Singapore Exchange Derivatives Trading Limited (SGX-DT), Singapore Exchange Derivatives Clearing Limited (SGX-DC) and Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX-ST). This completes the administrative process that remained after all SGX...
Singapore Private Residential Property Prices Drop Slightly in January
by Jared Heng Prices of private non-landed residential properties in Singapore dropped slightly in January compared with December last year, according to the latest Singapore Residential Price Index (SRPI) flash estimate. Published by the National University of Singapore’s Institute of Real Estate Studies, the overall SRPI fell by 0.4 per cent month-on-month in January. This...
Singapore’s Services Business Receipts Grow 4.4 Per cent in 4Q2011
by Jared Heng The Business Receipts Index of Singapore’s services sector, excluding wholesale & retail trade and accommodation & food services, grew by 4.4 per cent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Department of Statistics said on Monday. Compared with the same quarter of 2010, all services industries fared well except education services....
Singapore, Australia to Focus Research Efforts on Emerging Infectious Diseases
by Jared Heng Singaporean and Australian scientists will present recent groundbreaking findings in infectious diseases at a joint symposium in Singapore from February 27 to 28. Jointly organised by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the symposium will also look at the use of...
NUS, Dutch Research Institute Deltares Launch New Water Alliance
by Jared Heng Dutch research institute Deltares and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have launched a new water alliance to pursue high-impact water research and specialist consultancy services in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The agreement was signed by Professor Barry Halliwell, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), and Harry Baayen, Managing Director of Deltares....
Singapore Exchange Welcomes New Lyxor ETF Listings
by Jared Heng Singapore Exchange (SGX) Friday announced the listing of two new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by Lyxor International Asset Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Société Générale. The new ETFs offer exposure to Thailand and Indonesia and track the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Total Return Index (SET50 TRI) and the MSCI Indonesia Index respectively....
Singapore’s January Manufacturing Output Down 8.8 Per cent
by Jared Heng Weaknesses in the global economy and lower activity during the Lunar New Year period dampened Singapore’s manufacturing output in January. During the month, the nation’s production contracted 8.8 per cent from a year ago, the Economic Development Board (EDB) said on Friday. This was a much bigger fall than the less than...
Singapore to Introduce Tighter Tobacco Control Measures
by Jared Heng With effect from 1 March 2013, Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB), in partnership with the Health Sciences Authority, will introduce tighter tobacco control measures, under amendments to the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. One of the new measures is the banning of misleading descriptors on tobacco packaging, HPB said. This...
Baidu, A*STAR Research Institute Set Up Joint Laboratory in Singapore
by Jared Heng The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R), a research institute of Singapore’s Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), has signed an agreement to establish a joint laboratory with Baidu, Inc, the leading Chinese language internet search provider. I²R and Baidu signed the agreement in Beijing on Thursday. The joint laboratory, to be...
Singapore’s January Inflation Eases, but Prices Forecast to Stay Elevated
by Jared Heng Singapore’s CPI-All Items inflation eased to 4.8 per cent year-on-year in January, according to a joint statement by the nation’s central bank and the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Thursday. This compared with 5.5 per cent in December last year. The statement said the moderation in CPI-All Items inflation last month...
