HONG KONG: Prospects of a value-adding facelift to Admiralty's office precinct after the opening of new government headquarters in the area have driven prices of grade-A offices above their previous market peaks in 1994 and 1997.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's commercial and industrial property markets are expected to remain buoyant after recording rising numbers of sales and transaction values, due mainly to the additional special stamp duty levied on quick resales of residential units.

HONG KONG: Landlords of grade-A office buildings in Shanghai enjoyed strong demand in core areas in the first quarter, pushing up average rents 7%, according to Colliers International.

But the property consultant said rental growth would slow as new supply increased in the rest of the year.

HONG KONG: From property to jade and antique fragrant rosewood chairs, investor and collector Wong Koon-kau has many strings to his investment bow.

HONG KONG: Midland Holdings and its mortgage broker associate mReferral Mortgage Brokerage Services have lined up banks to offer clients a fixed mortgage rate plan of as low as 2.3%, as fears of interest rate rises dent buying interest in the secondary market.

KUALA LUMPUR: Apart from its political significance, the two-day visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is expected to see some groundbreaking deals for the business sector.

KUALA LUMPUR: Property developer Selangor Dredging Bhd (SDB) is planning to build 540 condominium units with a gross development value of RM300 million in Cheras South.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mutiara Goodyear Development Bhd on Tuesday, Apr 26 said it had been reprimanded by the Securities Commission (SC) for failing to seek prior approval from shareholders during the course of a takeover by ATIS Corp Bhd and the latter's subsidiary.

SINGAPORE: CapitaLand, Southeast Asia's largest property developer, reported a three-fold increase in first-quarter net profit after restating the year-ago figure, helped by higher profits from development projects and portfolio gains.

NEW YORK: Single-family home prices in the United States fell for an eighth straight month in February, inching closer to an April 2009 trough, a closely watched survey said on Tuesday, Apr 26.