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China scraps tax for some affordable-home builders

BEIJING: China will exempt a segment of the low-income housing sector from tax in a drive to boost supply, according to a government statement.

Builders and owners of "public rent homes" will be exempt from land use tax, stamp tax, deed tax and value-added tax for the next three years, the state tax office and finance ministry said late on Tuesday, Sept 27.

Gamuda posts net profit of RM193.69m for FY2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Gamuda Bhd posted revenue and net profit of RM2.455 billion and RM289.49 million respectively for its 2010 financial year (FY2010) ended July 31, 2010.

Comparatively, the company posted revenue and net profit of RM2.727 billion and RM193.69 million respectively a year ago.

Dubai home prices drop, but show signs of stability

KUALA LUMPUR: Dubai’s overall residential property market saw a 1.98% price drop in August compared with the previous month, according to real estate information company Reidin.com’s August All Residential Sales Price Index for Dubai (SPID-All Residential).

Villa prices, however, showed signs of stabilising as it dipped only 0.14% compared with a drop of 1.19% in July. 

UK lender Paragon restarts buy-to-let mortgages

LONDON: British mortgage provider Paragon will resume lending to buy-to-let landlords after securing fresh funds, and said many people were opting to rent rather than risk buying property in an uncertain market.

"Demand for rental property has never been as strong," Paragon Chief Executive Nigel Terrington told Reuters.

China checks banks' compliance with property curbs

BEIJING: Chinese regulators are making spot checks on whether banks are strictly complying with government curbs on mortgages for non-owner-occupied homes, state media reported on Tuesday, Sept 28.