BEIJING: China's bank regulator has urged banks to guard against risks in commercial real estate projects that have been targeted by speculative investment, the China Securities Journal reported on Tuesday, Sept 13, citing an unnamed source.

LONDON/KUALA LUMPUR: UK-based Berkeley Group will be launching in Malaysia its next luxury apartments project in Greenwich, London known as the Quartermaster's Apartments at The Warehouse No 1 Street, at end September. The project launch/ exhibition will be held at the JW Mariott KL from Sept 30-Oct 2.

KUALA LUMPUR: The heavy selldown on the broader market has not dampened investor interest in two property development firms — Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) and Malton Bhd.

Both counters were on the list of most actively traded stocks on Monday, Sept 12, with 17.2 million E&O and 13.4 million Malton shares changing hands.

KUALA LUMPUR: After being being bombarded with queries by the investing public and shareholder activists alike, the Securities Commission (SC) has issued a statement saying it is viewing all "stock transactions by all parties" in Sime Darby Bhd's acquisition of a 30% stake in property developer Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O).

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government through its State Economic Development Corporation is planning to build 13,000 units of houses of various categories by 2013 at a cost of RM800 million.

Its general manager Datuk Osman Muda said since the agency was appointed to manage low cost and affordable housing projects in 2009, it has been involved in 17 projects altogether.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) hopes that all illegal construction workers that had been registered, except those with criminal records, be legalised as top priority.

LONDON: Savills' latest Opportunities in Green report estimates that 700 million sq ft of commercial floor space in London may need to undergo an energy efficiency overhaul by 2018.

HONG KONG: Demand by China investors for Hong Kong property is expected to soften further as credit-tightening and an uncertain global economic outlook dampen buying interest in luxury residential projects.

HONG KONG: Goodman Group, one of the world's largest logistics operators, expects to see revenues from offshore increase to 60% of the group's total, helped by rapid investments in China, Hong Kong and Japan.

SHANGHAI: The hotel markets in five major cities of Greater China have experienced the start of recovery since last year with room rates rising and occupancy growing, according to Knight Frank. It predicts the outlook will continue to improve.