NEW YORK: Americans shook off some of their concerns about the economy as consumer sentiment rebounded this month from a 2½-year low, but a fall in house prices in September underscored the weak foundations of the recovery.     The sentiment data released on Nov 29 was a positive sign heading into the holiday shopping season.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): The Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association (MRCA) has urged developers to do extensive research before opening additional shopping malls in the Klang Valley, saying there is an oversupply.

Retailers have had difficulty in differentiating product offerings and in finding staff, said association secretary-general Valerie Choo.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Amphil Corp Sdn Bhd is all set to launch its maiden upscale green condominium project Rimbun in Kuala Lumpur's Embassy Row in the middle of this month despite a cautious property market environment.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): AmFIRST Real Estate Investment Trust (AmFIRST REIT) has completed the acquisition of its first investment in Cyberjaya, Prima 9 and Prima 10.

The two properties, which are tenanted by multinational companies on long-term leases, were acquired for RM133 million, said its manager Am ARA REIT Managers Sdn Bhd in a Bursa announcement on Thursday.

BEIJING (Dec 1): Average home prices in 100 Chinese cities slipped 0.3% in November, the third month of a modest pullback in the face of government measures to curb an exuberant housing market, a private survey showed on Thursday.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung has urged all parties in the property sector to always put the interests of the buyers first, by ensuring quality and timely delivery of their developments.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): The 1Malaysia People's Housing (PR1MA) Bill 2011, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday, was described as a wise move by the government to help those in the middle-income category own homes.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Wednesday said that the Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA) Bill was important to lessen the financial pressure faced by the middle-income group living in towns and outskirts of towns.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Al-Hadharah Boustead Real Estate Investment Trust's (Boustead REIT) 15 plantation assets gained a 20.4% or RM215.85 million net surplus after a revaluation exercise to reflect market conditions as required under the fair value model of Financial Reporting Standard 140.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Faber Group Bhd sank into the red recording a RM26.87 million net loss for the third quarter ended Sept 30 (3QFY11) in contrast to the RM29.01 million net profit for the corresponding period a year ago.