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Prices yet to bottom out

Residential property prices on the secondary market in Penang generally stood firm in 1Q2009 despite the current market slowdown, although there were some minor adjustments in prices for certain types of properties in selected areas.Raine & Horne International Zaki + Partners director Michael Geh says the property market here has yet to bottom out, but believes it may occur in the next few

Enter the ‘funky, frugal’ hotel

Undeterred by the global economic downturn, Tengku Sadhana Tengku Mohd Tahir has put her money and ambitions in the budget hotel business.

No buzz in Beijing

It was to have been China’s grand foray into international real estate as it was about to play host to Fiabci’s (French acronym for the Paris-based International Real Estate Federation) World Congress for the first time.

Construction industry challenges

From the shockingly high fuel hike last June and its subsequent fall, instability of building material supply and prices, liberalisation of importing building materials and the recent amendment to the Stamp Act 1949, the construction industry is facing one challenge after another.It was not that long ago when unstable building material supply and prices, especially that of steel bars and cement

SunCity’s green awards

Sunway City Bhd (SunCity) has joined the league of Malaysian developers whose projects have been awarded the coveted Green Mark certifications by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA).Sunway Palazzio development in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, a residential high-rise development, obtained the BCA’s Green Mark Gold Award (provisional), while Sunway Challis Damansara in Sunway Dama

China makes impressive debut

No one would expect an affordable or low-cost housing project to win an international property award but this year, the Fiabci (International Real Estate Federation) Prix d’Excellence Awards found one such winner.The project came out of China, a first-time participant in the awards. Of the four entries from China, two were winners and one a runner-up.

New CEO at the helm for Kuala Lumpur Pavilion

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn Bhd has appointed Joyce Yap as its chief executive officer for retail from May 1. Yap joined the company which manages lifestyle mall Pavilion Kuala Lumpur in May 2002 as director of leasing and marketing after which she was promoted to acting chief executive officer for retail.

S P Setia’s Setia Eco Gardens, Pavilion clinch Fiabci awards

KUALA LUMPUR: S P Setia Bhd’s Setia Eco Gardens project in Johor and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur have emerged winners in the Fiabci Prix d’Excellence Awards 2009 international property awards. Fiabci is the French acronym for the International Real Estate Federation. S P Setia won in the Master Plan category while Pavilion KL won in the Retail category.

HK residential market sales up in April

KUALA LUMPUR:  Sales activity in the Hong Kong residential market was on the upward trend in April and the first half of May. According to the Land Registry of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the number of sales transactions surged to more than 10,000 - a level which was last seen before the global financial crisis.

Moody's negative on China property developers

KUALA LUMPUR: Moody's Investors Service has a negative outlook for China's property development sector over the next 12-18 months.The international ratings agency said on May 19 local developers were facing continued operating uncertainties, imminent refinancing risk, and diminished balance-sheet liquidity.