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Market rebound likely to continue

HONG KONG: The first half of the year closed on a positive note for Hong Kong property and signs are that the rebound in buying sentiment is set to continue for the rest of the year, agents say.

Examples they cite include:

Builder confidence in new single-family homes falls

WASHINGTON: Builder confidence in the US market for newly built, single-family homes continued to fall for two straight months, underpinned by tight consumer credit, continuing competition from foreclosed and distressed properties, as well as consumer hesitancy towards purchasing homes, said the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Land prices in China rose 9.29%

KUALA LUMPUR: Land rates in 105 cities in China rose to 2,756 yuan (RM1,306) psm in 2Q2010, or 9.29%, according to the Shanghai Daily on Tuesday, July 20.

The newspaper reported that China's Land Surveying and Planning Institute, which is under the Ministry of Land and Resouces, said on July 19 that land prices went up 1.52% compared to 1Q2010.

Beijing office market re-establishes recovery in 2Q

KUALA LUMPUR: The overall Beijing office market experienced a recovery in 2Q2010, with a significant increase in leasing transaction volume and the overall vacancy rate dropping due to several new completions in the market, according to Colliers International in a report released on Tuesday, July 20.

Mah Sing’s Icon preview attracts 1,000 potential buyers

KUALA LUMPUR: The preview of Mah Sing Group Bhd’s Icon Residence Mont’Kiara on July 16 to 18 at the Sime Darby Convention Centre received more than 1,000 potential buyers.

“The response was flattering for a project that is priced at an average RM1,200 psf,” said Mah Sing Properties’ chief operating officer Teh Heng Chong in a statement on Tuesday, July 20.

MPMS offers recourse for property management issues

KUALA LUMPUR: Property owners now have some recourse for property management-related issues via the implementation the Malaysian Property Management Standards (MPMS) introduced by the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Malaysia, which took effect on June 1, 2010.

Ho Hup up 37% on new regularisation plan

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of financially distressed Ho Hup Construction Company Bhd surged 37.14% or 19.5 sen to 72 sen on Monday, July 19 following an announcement that it planned to acquire two companies to help regularise its financial position.

The stock had traded to an intra-day high of 78 sen and a low of 54 sen before closing at 72 sen, with 654,200 shares traded.

Axis REIT (AmResearch) buy; fair value RM2.37

• Axis REIT (Axis) posted net income of RM13mil for 2QFY10 thus taking its 1HFY10 net income to RM25mil. This is in line with ours and street’s estimates, accounting for 45% and
50% respectively.