KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry prefers to focus its efforts to develop gardens than commercial centres, its minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Land owners in Kampung Baru are reminded not to be confused over the RM4 million payment promised by the government if they were to accept the proposed re-development concept plan for the area.

KUALA LUMPUR:  Seriemas Development Sdn Bhd is launching the first phase of 2-storey superlink homes at its Cempaka Suria project in Kota Seriemas (pictured), Nilai, Negri Sembilan on Feb 20.

Seriemas Development (formerly known as I&P Seriemas Sdn Bhd) is a subsidiary of PNB Development Sdn Bhd.

LOS ANGELES: Among the four top-ranking international financial centres (IFC), London and Hong Kong’s office markets are the first to bounce back from the global economic crisis, said CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) in its report, “How Did They Fare? -- A Comparison of Office Markets in IFCs”. The other two cities are Tokyo and New York.

Reaffirm NEUTRAL

SP Setia Reaffirm NEUTRAL

Unchanged Target Price (TP): RM3.99

We  recently  visited  some  key  developments  by  SP Setia  in  Johor.  Some of  the  notable  projects  we visited  were  Setia  Tropika,  Setia  Eco  Garden  and

Bukit Indah. Below are the takeaways of the visit:-

Mah Sing Group Retain BUY

Unchanged target price (TP): RM2.24

We recently visited key development by Mah Sing Group (MSGB) in Johor. Some of the notable projects we visited were Sri Pulai I, Sri Pulai II, Austin Perdana and Sierra Perdana. Below are the key-takeaways:-

WASHINGTON: US housing starts rebounded more strongly than expected to their highest level in six months in January, while permits fell slightly less than forecast, pointing a mild housing market recovery.

HONG KONG: Chilly weather and a soon-to-be launched big housing project in Yuen Long deterred homebuyers, with the primary residential market virtually grinding to a halt over the three-day Lunar New Year holiday.

"As far as I know, not a single flat has been sold. It may be the worst performance of recent years," Sammy Po Siu-ming, a director of Midland Realty, said Feb 17.

SYDNEY: Westfield declined to comment on the offer made by U.S. retailer Simon Property Group to failed General Growth Properties, but said the Australian group was monitoring the situation.

"We are just watching the situation, but I won't comment directly on General Growth or Simon's position here," Managing Director Peter Lowy told an analysts' briefing Feb 17.