Singapore Real Estate H2 2016 may see green shoots of recovery for private homes Amid all the gloom and doom surrounding the private residential market, a more contrarian view that has emerged now points to green shoots of recovery in the second half of 2016. A continual downward drift in residential prices is almost a foregone conclusion in light of rising vacancies, impending interest-rate hikes and a slowing economy, consultants say. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/raffles-city-singapore-remains-jointly-owned-by-cct-cmt Sinarmas Land to invest at least 4 trillion rupiah in Batam project Singapore-listed Sinarmas Land has unveiled its development plans for Nuvasa Bay, its first development project that integrates an exclusive residential area with a full suite of resort facilities surrounded by an 18-hole international golf course along a 1.2km-long beachfront. The group plans to invest a minimum of four trillion rupiah (S$400 million) over the next five years to develop Nuvasa Bay and to market the project in the third or fourth quarter of 2016. Orchard Central to undergo major revamp Orchard Central (OC), whose layout has been criticised as complicated, will undergo its first major renovation since it opened six years ago. Set to be done by the third quarter of next year, this will introduce new escalators and reconfigured walkways in the 11-storey mall, said Far East Organization, which owns the mall. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/orchard-central-to-undergo-major-revamp http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/orchard-central-to/2346602.html Orchard incidents 'likely due to heavy rainfall' http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/orchard-incidents-likely-due-to-heavy-rainfall?login=true Companies' Brief Singapore interest rates rise ahead of Fed's decision Local interest rates are inching up and investors are on edge as the countdown to Thursday's decision by the United States Federal Reserve begins in earnest. It is widely expected that the Fed will raise interest rates from near-zero levels - the first such rise in nine years - and the effects are already rippling through Singapore's financial and currency markets. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore/possible-us-rate-hike/2345806.html Ascendas Reit Portfolio occupancy rates bottomed out in Q3 CY15, increasing marginally to 88.9 per cent (versus 88.6 per cent in June 2015). Looking ahead, with vacancy rates standing at about 11 per cent, we believe that Ascendas Reit (A-Reit) has upside to earnings if the unoccupied space can be filled, which is not included in our earnings forecast. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/brokers-take-194 Views, Reviews & Forum Give 'Cycling Sundays' a try The commentary "Making cars take a back seat in urban commutes" (Nov 26) showed how far behind we are in the car-lite revolution happening in other leading cities. Cities such as Paris have tried car-free Sundays; Oslo is planning to ban cars from the city centre. http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/give-cycling-sundays-a-try?login=true Global Economy & Global Real Estate Markets fragile with Fed set to lift rates Global markets are in a fragile mood as the United States Federal Reserve prepares to finally pull the trigger on an interest rate hike. Share and commodity prices are tumbling as jittery investors anticipate the first increase in rates since 2006. Market watchers are all but convinced that the US central bank will lift rates from ultra-low levels tomorrow (Thursday morning Singapore time), as a mark of the economy's recovery since the global financial crisis. http://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/markets-fragile-with-fed-set-to-lift-rates?login=true Buzz over bid by China's 'Silicon Valley' to draw foreign talent Saudi mall owners continue building despite oil rout http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/saudi-mall-owners-continue-building-despite-oil-rout Central London home prices seen stagnating as buyers 'give up' Severe flooding puts damper on Florida Keys http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/severe-flooding-puts-damper-on-florida-keys ANZ sees end to Sydney mortgage market shortfall in 5 years Home of best new US restaurant sells for US$4.1m in historic deal Vietnam's urban migration leading to packed cities, empty villages America must bring the corporate tax exiles home http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/america-must-bring-the-corporate-tax-exiles-home Murder-Free Days Underpin Property Boom in Biggest Pakistan City Billionaire Triguboff Likes Aussie Property as Stocks `Terrible' |