KUALA LUMPUR: Despite slower growth in Knight Frank Global House Price Index in the first quarter of 2014 (1Q14), Knight Frank expects the index to strengthen in 2Q14.“All eyes will remain on central banks, in particular the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.

LONDON: New large-scale investors to Europe are reshaping markets and there are also more investments from the US, Asia-Pacific and family offices compared to just the traditional pan-European and domestic investors in the past, according to the latest Savills World Research European Investment report.“As the share of global cross-border flows increases and some of the traditional pan-European

SHAH ALAM: I-Bhd and Central Pattana PCL have unveiled an amended design for the regional shopping mall in the 72-acre (29ha) i-City, Shah Alam.Approval for the subdivision of the site to provide the mall joint venture with a separate land title was approved in March, said I-Bhd in a statement yesterday.I-Bhd and Thailand’s Central Pattana signed a joint venture to develop the Central Plaza @i-

KUALA LUMPUR: IOI Properties Group Bhd expects the addition of five-star Le Meridien Putrajaya and the four-star Four Points by Sheraton Puchong to contribute positively to its portfolio.Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc signed an agreement with IOI Properties to manage the two hotels yesterday.

NUSAJAYA: Earthworks for the first phase of the 519-acre (210ha) Nusajaya Tech Park in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, will start in a couple of weeks. Nusajaya Tech Park is a 60:40 joint venture by Singapore-based Ascendas Pte Ltd and UEM Sunrise Bhd.“We will be developing the 519-acre Nusajaya Tech Park in phases.

KUALA LUMPUR: UEM Sunrise Bhd (UEMS) is expected to announce soon several partnerships in mall management/investment, property development and hospitality, with three local and foreign parties, according to sources.

KUALA LUMPUR: S P Setia Bhd is on track to meet its RM5 billion sales target for financial year 2014 ending October (FY14), despite the challenging conditions the property market faces this year, said acting president and chief executive officer Datuk Voon Tin Yow (pic).

KUALA LUMPUR: Amid slowing demand in the sports shoe market in the world’s second-largest economy, China-based shoemaker Maxwell International Holdings Bhd, which has been experiencing declining sales and earnings, is strengthening its retail and fashion business.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mah Sing Group Bhd’s proposed acquisition of 20 pieces of prime freehold land in Jawi, Penang totalling 76.38 acres (30.9ha) from four separate vendors for RM42.59 million or RM12.80 per sq ft, has hit a roadblock.

KUALA LUMPUR: IOI Corp Bhd founder and executive chairman Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng (pic) said there is no property bubble in Malaysia, although the housing market is slowing down.

He sees fewer residential property launches and slower sales this year due to the cooling measures announced in Budget 2014.