SHANGHAI: In the eight years leading up to the World Expo, Shanghai has been a hive of activity, with armies of labourers working flat out to complete a series of massive infrastructure projects.

SYDNEY: Australian house prices surged 20% in the year to March, the fastest pace on record and a powerful argument for the central bank to raise interest rates this week.

KUALA LUMPUR: Industry players are positive about the outlook on Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts (MREITs) for the next half of 2010.

In view of improving underlying property market, improving economy and attractive yields, Sherilyn Foong, associate director at New Asia Capital, believes that it is a good time to enter the MREITs market now.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Holdings Bhd, via its unit Sunway Marketing Sdn Bhd, has proposed to set up a joint venture company with Opus Developers and Builders Pte Ltd called Sunway Opus International Trading Pte Ltd to undertake the importing, marketing and sale of architectural and finishing products.

KUALA LUMPUR: Encorp Bhd, which announced on April 22 a proposal to acquire 3.3 acres (1.3ha) in Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya for RM25.9 million from UEM Land Bhd, said it has been given assurances by the vendor that the main commercial elements of the township would be ready by 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hunza Properties Bhd profit before tax (PBT) for its third quarter ended Marach 31, 2010 (3Q2010) rose 62%, from RM8.99 million to RM14.76 million in the same period last year. The group’s revenue also increased by 216%, or RM58.53 million, compared to RM18.51 million in the same period last year.

KUALA LUMPUR: Property developer Magna Prima Bhd plans to start development work on its 6.95-acre land in Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya by next year.

Known as the Jalan Gasing project, Magna Prima has purchased the land for RM48.5 million cash from Petaling Garden Sdn Bhd.

KUALA LUMPUR: S P Setia Bhd subsidiary Setia (Hangzhou) Development Company Limited and its joint venture (JV) partner, Hangzhou Ju Shen Construction Engineering Limited have agreed to extend the precedent conditions fulfillment period set out in the JV contract between the two parties, by six months.

JELI (Kelantan): There are 1,673 abandoned projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the government will be reviving them. "These projects were abandoned due mainly to contractorweaknesses, problems with building materials, techincal scope and the weather," said Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

PETALING JAYA:  Tower A of One Kiara, the luxury twin-tower condominium development by Monday-Off Development Sdn Bhd in Mont’Kiara, Kuala Lumpur has achieved 80% sales since its soft launch in early April.  This is despite concerns of an oversupply of high-end high-rise homes in the area.