CHENGDU/WUHAN (China): When China announced a four trillion yuan (RM1.97 trillion) package to ward off the 2008 global financial crisis, city planners across the country happily embarked on a frenzy of infrastructure projects, some of them of arguable need.

KUALA LUMPUR: S P Setia Bhd's Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin will continue to lead the company as CEO, according to a joint statement issued by Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and the property developer on Monday, Oct 10.

The joint statement, in relation to PNB's takeover of S P Setia, said the existing management team of S P Setia will also continue to manage the company.

We could have been in a shopping mall anywhere in the world. In fact, standing among the throng of shoppers — camera-carrying tourists, families with strollers or toddlers in Kiddy Cars and gaggles of teenagers — it would have been easy to believe that we were in Takashimaya or Suria KLCC on a busy Sunday afternoon.

SINGAPORE: Australand Property Group (Australand) has confirmed it intentions to delist from the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd (SGX).

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government is willing to consider a request to return the 999-year lease term, instead of 99 years, pertaining to subdivided titles for house owners and house buyers.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the matter would be brought to the Sabah Cabinet for deliberation.

Timber sector

PETALING JAYA: Only a limited number of retail, office and serviced apartment units of mixed commercial development Jaya One's new phase in Section 13, Petaling Jaya, will be available for sale during its launch on Oct 22.

Building a 'city in a garden'

Chinese investors are making their presence felt abroad as they seek stable assets offering better returns outside their country.

Property auctions are often regarded as a good gauge of the rest of the market. The Hungry Ghost Month this year (July 31 to Aug 28) was especially telling (see Chart 1).