KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 1): Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) posted a 134% increase in its earnings to RM95.08 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30 from RM40.51 million a year ago.

In an announcement on Monday, it said revenue increased 72% to RM372.67 million from RM215.77 million and earnings per share was 10.88 sen compared with 5.79 sen.

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 1): Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim's recent remark regarding the possible increase of the income eligibility under the My First House Scheme from RM3,000 to either RM6,000 or RM7,000 has stirred debate and raised questions.

GEORGE TOWN (Nov 1): YTL Land & Development Bhd has yet to launch Shorefront Residences, its luxury project in Penang. Yet, within the first week that the project was open for registration through its website, the developer received more than 1,000 sign-ups.

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): Ireka Corporation Bhd's unit has secured a RM85.14 million contract for the proposed City International Hospital project in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Ireka said on Monday its unit Ireka Engineering and Construction Vietnam Co Ltd was awarded the contract by Hoa Lam-Shangri-La 1 LLC.

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): Benalec Holdings Bhd has sealed a RM36.60 million contract to reclaim 60 acres of land  on the coast of Pulau Konet, Alor Gajah, Malacca.

Benalec said on Monday that its unit Benalec Sdn Bhd had sealed an agreement with Anzeco Coal Terminal Bhd, a unit of Anzeco Corporations (M) Sdn Bhd, to undertake the reclamation.

BEIJING: China thought it had a good plan: Bring down soaring house prices so millions of frustrated wage-earning families can afford new homes, and social harmony will follow.

However, furious protests by existing homeowners against price-cuts on new developments show that the road to real estate equilibrium is a rocky one.

KUALA LUMPUR: An inquiry secretariat, set up by the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to investigate the issue of native and Orang Asli land rights, has called on the public to give feedback on the matter.

Stakeholders and interested parties are invited to present their views to the secretariat to assist the commission in its inquiry, Suhakam said in a statement.

ALOR GAJAH: Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung has urged local authorities (LA) to adopt a transparent and systematic approach in the maintenance of public infrastructural facilities.

He made the call, following findings in the Auditor-General's Report which showed their failure in carrying out maintenance of public infrastructure.

SHANGHAI: China will "unswervingly" maintain its property curbs for the rest of this year as it fine-tunes macroeconomic policy, China's State Council, or Cabinet, said last Saturday, Oct 29.

WASHINGTON: Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's regulator last Saturday, Oct 29 rejected criticism he was obstructing a housing recovery by taking too narrow a view of his mission to protect the financial health of the two massive, taxpayer-supported mortgage firms.