The Business Times, 21 March 2008

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Total Pages: 28
1 28 The Business Times
  • 22 1 THE BUSINESS TIMES Singapore 85 cents online at http://businesstimes.com.sg iv a Singapore press holdings publication coregnnoi9B4o2B6Be mica (p) 122/12/2007 Friday, March 21,2008
    22 words
  • 671 1  -  LEE U-WEN It wins exclusive rights to screen Uefa Champions League here on mio TV, Internet By [S[NGAPORE] Singapore Telecommunications has muscled its way into the lucrative football pay TV market, beating ESPN Star Sports (ESS) to secure the exclusive rights to screen
    671 words
  • MARKETS DIGEST
    • 39 1 I COMP Closed IIKKEI 225 Closed IANG SENG 21,108.22 -758.72 ;et INDEX 798.11 -9.56 JAKARTA COMP Closed 1ANILACOMP Closed ;eoulcomp 1,623.39 +1.16 ;henzhen B 537.69 +18.91 IUMBAI IND Closed 12NOONEDT Change 12,209.97 +110.31 )OW IAS DAI 2,226.79 +16.83
      39 words
    • 29 1 Bloomberg SINGAPORE 5.33 MALAYSIA 6.74 HONG KONG 5.25 INDONESIA 15.783 TAIWAN 6.316 JAPAN 1.875 KOREA 9.33 BRITAIN 5.25 US 5.25 CANADA 5.25 SWITZERLAND 4.07 INDIA 12.25 Source:
      Bloomberg  -  29 words
    • 36 1 IS$ (S$ per US$) 1.387 (US$/S$ )er 1.980 2.747 ;URO(US$/S$/E) 1.558 2.161 'EN 99.2 71.50 3.178 2.291 IK$ 7.778 5.607 !AHT 31.28 22.55 IUPIAH 9,185 6,621 IENMINBI 7.055 5.085 INDIAN RUPEE 40.49 29.19 1.095 0.789
      36 words
  • 551 1  -  CHOW PENN NEE One-touch credit card payments stop as partner goes bust By [SINGAPORE] Citibank credit card customers who used to pay for purchases with their thumb no longer have that option. Citibank's partner in biometric payment services for its credit and debit card customers
    551 words
  • Page 1 Advertisements
  • Page 1 Miscellaneous
    • 86 1 PROFILE SB.QM I INVESTMENT I /A* I ~Jf CUPPER RACE A Singaporean jjjT Why Jim Rogers 1 "■^^^^raJlr Hanging tough in in Amsterdam V 3 is betting on Taiwan fit^Mfc 4ltflft rough times PAGE 26 *i PAGE 11 jpi tel^ HKHI PAGE 25 1 i^i I I f Storm in
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  • TOP STORIES
    • THREE-MINUTE DIGEST
      • 79 2 SHELL is looking at more upgrading investments for its world-leading Pulau Bukom refinery to make it even more efficient and competitive, a top company executive said yesterday. Rob Routs, Shell's executive director Downstream, said "a couple more" plant additions could take place at
        79 words
      • 69 2 CHINA companies listed in Singapore took a beating yesterday, with many plunging to fresh lows. The fear in the stock market is that these companies are now facing severe profit margin squeeze because of growing raw material costs. These worries were compounded
        69 words
      • 65 2 THE Straits Trading Company, the target of a recently concluded bidding war, yesterday appointed Chew Gek Khim as a non-executive and non-independent director. Ms Chew, 46, has been a key figure in the takeover saga revolving around STC. She is executive chairman and
        65 words
      • 74 2 OLAM International Ltd, the Singapore-based commodities supplier, rose the most in a week yesterday after denying that banks are pulling credit lines because of its links to a Bermuda-based broker whose stock plunged this week. 01am rose 3.3 per cent in Singapore trading, after
        74 words
      • 67 2 SINGAPORE intends to maintain the momentum of its biomedical sector by leveraging on opportunities in growing regional markets, says a senior Economic Development Board (EDB) official. EDB's head of medical technology Kevin Lai said that the desire to make health care
        67 words
      • 81 2 THE US economy will fail to grow for the first time since 2001 in the three months ending in June, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development predicted. The stagnation will come after an expansion of 0.1 per cent this quarter from
        81 words
      • 83 2 PROPERTY transactions in Penang appear to have come to a standstill as investors wait and see how the state's economic landscape will unfold, says a report in Malaysia's Business Times. "We have received many concerned calls from our foreign investors, counterparts and clients, who
        83 words
      • 77 2 JIM Rogers, co-founder with George Soros of the Quantum Hedge Fund, is investing in Taiwan on expectations this week's presidential election will install a government that will improve ties with China. Mr Rogers, 65, said he recently bought exchange- traded funds
        77 words
    • 437 2  -  MICHELLE QUAH It manages to secure extension of its debt repayment deadline By [SINGAPORE] Allco Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust (Allco Reit) which went to court to fend off a ratings downgrade has succeeded in obtaining an extension of its debt repayment obligations,
      437 words
    • 571 2  -  CHEW XIANG High rental, raw material, manpower issues keep 6 in 10 in the red: survey By [SINGAPORE] Almost six in 10 of start-up companies and limited liability partnerships operating less than three years are still losing money, according to a survey
      571 words
    • 324 2 It also lines up USs42.sm in financing [DETROIT] Borders said yesterday that it may put itself up for sale while it has lined up U5542.5 million in financing to help continue operating. Borders, the second largest books company, delayed its
      AP  -  324 words
    • 427 2 Bloomberg LATEST US DATA [NEW YORK] The index of leading US economic indicators fell in February for a fifth straight month, reflecting mounting signs that a recession has begun. The Conference Board's gauge, which points to the direction of the economy over the
      – Bloomberg  -  427 words
    • 683 4  -  RONNIE LIM It says more capacity has to be built in the East because of the huge demand By [SINGAPORE] Oil giant Shell is looking at more upgrading investments for its world-leading Pulau Bukom refinery to make it even more efficient and competitive, a
      683 words
    • 858 4 -NYT Many of Bear's 14,000 employees will lose their jobs [NEW YORK] James Dimon tramped through the rain on Wednesday evening and strode into the headquarters of Bear Steams, the embattled investment bank he hopes to buy for a
      -NYT; PHOTOS: AP, REUTERS  -  858 words
    • 404 4  -  SIOW LI SEN !y [SINGAPORE] Contractors reeling under price increases for raw materials may soon be able to hedge the price of steel at the London Metal Exchange, which is launching two steel futures contracts. The price of steel billets this month hit
      404 words
    • 668 4 -AP [BANGKOK] Somewhere in the firmament of Michelinstarred chefs there must be one willing to accept US$B,OOO for a single night's work. The only catch is that this particular dinner at a Bangkok luxury hotel has stirred up a mighty controversy, and two dozen
      -AP  -  668 words
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  • Page 3 Advertisements
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  • Page 4 Advertisements
    • 454 4 I I AURIC PACIFIC GROUP LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) (Company Registration Number: *****2981 D) NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Auric Pacific Group Limited (the "Company") will be held at The Belvedere, 4 <h Floor, Grand Tower Meritus
      454 words

  • COMPANY NEWS
    • 637 5  -  LYNETTE KHOO Worries fuelled by analysts' downgrade of S-shares, Synear's profit warning By S-SHARES, which refer to stocks of China companies listed in Singapore, took a beating yesterday, with many plunging to fresh lows. The fear in the stock market is that
      637 words
    • 469 5  -  LYNETTE KHOO Audit committee wants to know why acquisition cost additional 190 m yuan By CHINA Energy said yesterday that its audit committee (AC) has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct an independent review of the additional payments made by the company on its acquisition
      469 words
    • 230 5 Reuters [SINGAPORE] Morgan Stanley said in a research report yesterday that it sees advantages in a merger between Hapag-Lloyd, the shipping unit of Germany's TUI, and Neptune Orient Lines (NOL). Morgan Stanley analysts said in the report that the deal would be "an
      – Reuters; AP  -  230 words
    • 256 5 Other members of the group are M 1 and Hong Kong's City Telecom STARHUB has joined Ml and Hong Kong's City Telecom to form a consortium and bid for a project to build Singapore's Next Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN),
      256 words
    • 281 5  -  YEN SREENIVASAN By SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) has raised its fuel surcharge for the fifth time this year in response to the soaring price of jet fuel. The company said yesterday that the surcharge on all sectors will rise as much as
      I AFP  -  281 words
    • COMPANY BRIEFS
      • 84 5 Reuters DBS Group yesterday said that it has received a licence from the State Bank of Vietnam to set up a representative office in Hanoi. "The representative office is intended to be only the first of many steps towards developing a business
        Reuters  -  84 words
      • 97 5 INTERNATIONAL Capital Investment Ltd (ICIL) announced yesterday that the exit offer closing date has been extended from March 20 to May 5. It also said that the company intends to hold its adjourned extraordinary general meeting on April 18. A supplemental circular that
        97 words
      • 85 5 Bloomberg STAMFORD Land Corp said that it received several "approaches" from groups interested to buy its eight hotels in Australia and New Zealand. The Singapore-based company earlier received an unsolicited AsBso million (Ssl billion) offer for the properties from a buyer it did not
        Bloomberg  -  85 words
      • 100 5 UNIONMET (Singapore) Ltd warned that the group will report a loss for the first quarter of 2008. This is primarily due to the underperformance of a key subsidiary in China as a result of higher cost of sales and the plummeting price of zinc. In
        100 words
    • 329 7  -  EMILYN YAP Tan family's stake in company tops 83% ahead of offer's April 3 closing date By THE Straits Trading Company (STC), the target of a bidding war that ended recently, yesterday appointed Chew Gek Khim as a non-executive and non-in-iependent director. Ms Chew,
      FILE PHOTO  -  329 words
    • 240 7 STRAITS Asia Resources Ltd, an Indonesian coal producer, fell in Singapore trading on concern that a global economic slowdown would curb demand while benchmark Asian prices of the fuel fell for a fourth week. Straits Asia declined 12.4 per cent to 552.54 at
      240 words
    • 520 7 Bloomberg OLAM International Ltd, the Singapore-based commodities supplier, rose the most in a week yesterday after denying that banks are pulling credit lines because of its links to a Bermu-da-based broker whose stock plunged this week. Olam rose 3.3 per cent in Singapore trading,
      Bloomberg  -  520 words
    • 198 7 Reuters [SINGAPORE] Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) said yesterday that it issued RMI billion (550.44 billion) of subordinated bonds to augment its capital, lower than it had intended to offer. OCBC, Singapore's third largest lender, originally planned to raise RMI.S billion to RM2.5 billion
      Reuters  -  198 words
    • 7657 7 UNIT TRUSTS FUNDS ABN AMRO Asset Mgt (S'pore) Star Europe Eqty!** 0.873/ Star Europe Bond 1.233/ Star Europe Bal 1.149/ Star Asian Tiger Eqty 1.244/ Star Asia Bond 1.186/ Star Asia Balanced 0.94/ Star Global Technology Fund!" 0.183/ Multi St Fd 0.864/ Star Asia Bond(USD) 0.861/ Gib Multi St USD
      7,657 words
  • Page 5 Advertisements
    • 139 5 mmm^^T mT rr^rm'^ mmmmm% The Amana side-by-side made in the ~j* Mta, flft r refrigerator is A rated for magam A Energy Efficiency. The "s^^ —a I Ice 'N Water™ dispenser Mml 13 models are fitted with an USA Af ir^^n easvreacnwaterfi'ter- nrwTTTi It can dispense water, j crushed or
      139 words

  • SINGAPORE MARKETS
    • 586 6  -  R SIVANITHY STOCKS Absence of retail players evident from dwindling daily volume in past several weeks THIS is clearly a market for nimble, short-term traders. There's no rocket science involved, just a stomach for the relatively risky approach of following the momentum either up
      Bloomberg  -  586 words
    • 90 6 Up Down Unch Up Down Unch Up Down Unch lulti Ind 3 8 5 0 0 0 lanufacturing 39 107 51 12 12 41 119 63 Sommerce 37 20 14 42 "pt/Stor/Comms 11 22 11 23 :inance 18 19 Sonstruction 14 'roperties 10 23 10 23 lotels/Rsts
      90 words
    • 119 6 MAIN SDQ TOTAL MAIN SDQ TOTAL lulti Ind 18.268 18.268 73.697 73.697 lanufacturing 336.814 20.770 357.584 260.064 2.097 262.161 Sommerce 90.117 1.673 91.790 154.384 164 154.548 'pt/Stor/Comms 119.735 260 119.995 324.901 73 324.974 :inance 38.357 38.358 355.101 355.101 Sonstruction 23.300 16.969 40.269 4.917 1.373 6.290 'ro| jerties
      119 words
    • 102 6 lapitaLand 5.680 -0.040 :apitaMall 3.110 +0.010 jtyDev 9.750 -0.050 losco Corp 2.970 +0.020 IBS Grp 17.100 -0.280 :&N 4.490 -0.010 Sent Intl 0.565 -0.005 IK Land 3.860 -0.080 ISH 16.100 -0.140 lardine C&C 16.400 leppel Corp 9.440 -0.110 leppel Land 5.080 -0.120 IOL 2.970 -0.040 loble
      102 words
    • Article, Illustration
      959 6  -  MATTHEW PHAN ATTRACTIVE asset class: We have "buy" ratings on all three shipping trusts Rickmers Maritime (RMT), Pacific Shipping Trust (PST), and First Ship Lease Trust (FSLT). The asset class as a whole is very attractive unitholders gain exposure to an attractive sector while side-step-ping some of the
      Bloomberg  -  959 words
    • 536 6  -  LARRY WEE CURRENCIES SHARPLY lower commodity prices ahead of the extended weekend break punished commodity currencies like the Australian and Canadian dollars yesterday. Gold prices slumped more than 7 per cent from Wednesday's closing levels in Asia yesterday, while US light
      Reuters  -  536 words
    • 4 6 DAILY
      4 words
    • 54 6 Mar 20 VALUE CLOSE -1375.00-205.00 BT OB/OS BT CADI -*****.00-217.00 BT 10-day MA -*****.00-138.00 FTSE ST Mid Cap 703.03 -15.37 FTSE ST Small Cap 590.11 -10.69 FTSE ST All Share 716.93 -6.04 FTSE ST China 379.20 -12.31 UOB Catalist 143.23 -0.86 SIMSCI 352.59 -2.18 SIMSCI Futures 350.80
      54 words
    • 56 6 VOLUME Golden Agri 98,214,000 Jasper 96,738,000 Sing Tel 36,260,000 Noble Grp 30,744,000 Synear 28,896,000 Yangzijiang 28,005,000 Olam 26,576,000 Centillion 26,166,000 CoscoCorpMßl_eCWoBoBol 25,435,000 JiutianC 20,081,000 VALUE(S) Sing Tel 139,245,052 UOB 114,070,780 DBS Grp 103,671,510 Golden Agri 78,556,990 SGX 71,177,200 Capita Land 68,094,710 Wilmar 64,667,190 Cosco Corp 58,773,580 Noble
      56 words
    • 103 6 CLOSE UP 2946 194.1 5.0 JMH Wilmar 400 37.0 10.2 ndoAi U± 211 19.0 9. STI 3450 DBePW/*****2 135 18.0 15.4 SIA 200 1446 16.0 1.1 S I A 1448 14.0 1.0 UOB 1814 14.0 0.8 CDL HTrust 199 9.0 4.7 GuocoLand Ltd 363 9.0 2.5 ilanBNPePW***** 29 7.0
      103 words
    • 117 6 CLOSE DOWN GLD 10US$ 9240-845.9 -6.2 China H 10US$ 1386-116.5 -5.7 Creative Tech 625 -56.0 -8.2 Venture Con 1002 -44.0 -4.2 DBS MBLJCW*****0 450 -38.0 -7.8 StraitsAsia 254 -36.0 -12.4 SGX MBL JCW*****3 211 -32.0 -13.2 IS MSCI India 100 655 -29.1 -3.1 iBS Gr| 1710 -28.0 -1.( Cmdfr
      117 words
    • 83 6 iere! S$ stands Mar 20 CHNG CLOSE FRMar19 YR 2008/07 S$ LOW S$ HIGH USS 1.3882 -0.53 1.5479 1.3757 Euro 2.1555 0.96 2.2064 1.9913 Pounds 2.7504 0.71 3.1194 2.7390 AS 1.2633 1.71 1.3555 1.1741 Yen* 1.3917 0.93 1.4484 1.2285 Rill liah* 0.***** -0.53 0.***** 0.***** Baht* 4.4366 -0.15 4.5700
      83 words


  • SINGAPORE NEWS
    • 487 8 Clinical trials taking place at multiple sites across Asia are being managed here By CHEN HUIFEN SINGAPORE intends to maintain the momentum of its biomedical sector by leveraging on opportunities in growing regional markets, says a senior Economic Development Board (EDB)
      FILE PHOTO  -  487 words
    • 285 8 There is a provision to moderate the fine by considering actions SMRT took SMRT Corp has asked the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to review the penalty imposed on the rail operator for the disruption in train services in January this year. In
      285 words
    • 504 8  -  MATTHEW PHAN By THE US is likely to move legislation on climate change and carbon trading by next year that will help to push through a global agreement on how to tackle the problem, Lehman Brothers senior economic policy adviser John Llewellyn
      FILE PHOTO  -  504 words
    • 246 8  -  GEOFFREY LEE Retailers group will seek to change lease conditions and employment rules By HOUR Glass vice-chairman Jannie Tay has been re-elected president of the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) until 2010 her fifth term in the job. Wong Sioe Hong, managing director of Metro, and
      246 words
    • 339 8 The Kids Run aims to boost healthy lifestyles, add buzz to Marina Bay area FUN runs have become more popular and more numerous in Singapore in recent years. And this year there will be a new one dedicated to children the first
      339 words
    • 293 8 THE Land Transport Authority yesterday said it awarded a contract worth $16.86 million to widen the stretch of the Central Expressway (CTE) between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 to Or Kirn Peow Contractors. This is the
      293 words
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  • ECONOMY WATCH
    • 489 9 Bloomberg, Reuters It also expects growth in Europe to slow to 0.4% in the April-June quarter [PARIS] The US economy will fail to grow for the first time since 2001 in the three months ending in June, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
      Bloomberg, Reuters  -  489 words
    • 854 9 -AP [WASHINGTON] Ben Bernanke's juggling act has gotten harder. The Federal Reserve chairman has been taking extraordinary steps to prevent credit, financial and housing problems from driving the US into a deep recession. At the same time, he faces the danger that the very
      -AP; REUTERS  -  854 words
    • 651 9 Reuters [WASHINGTON] Donor commitments to finance a World Bank clean technology fund for developing countries have not yet reached the US$5 billion target, the bank's top environment official says. Talks with donors are determining their interest in contributing to the fund and
      Reuters; BLOOMBERG  -  651 words
    • 673 9 Bloomberg [LONDON] Gold yesterday headed for its biggest weekly drop in 25 years, leading a drop in commodity prices, after the dollar rallied and concern mounted that a US-led slowdown in the global economy will reduce consumption of raw materials. Oil fell below
      Bloomberg  -  673 words
    • 352 9 ■AFP It lifts import tariffs on 70 products, freezes utility rates [SEOUL] South Korea announced yesterday an emergency decision to lift import tariffs on 70 price-sensitive products including wheat and corn to help tame rising inflation. The decision was made at a
      ■AFP  -  352 words

  • MALAYSIA/INDONESIA
    • 347 10 Investors wait and see how the state's economic landscape will unfold [KUALA LUMPUR] Property transactions in Penang appear to have come to a standstill as investors wait and see how the state's economic landscape will unfold, says a report in Malaysia's Business Times. "We have
      347 words
    • 307 10 -AFP He says he'll challenge Abdullah if there are enough nominations [KUALA LUMPUR] A former Malaysian finance minister is preparing to challenge the Malaysian prime minister after his ruling coalition suffered stunning election losses, a report said yesterday. Senior lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
      -AFP  -  307 words
    • 282 10 Reuters Demand for rupiah bonds to stay firm, says rating agency [JAKARTA] Indonesia is not expected to have major problems financing its 2008 Budget and demand for rupiah bonds, a key funding source, should remain firm this year, the country's major rating
      – Reuters  -  282 words
    • 289 10 Xinhua [JAKARTA] The Indonesian finance ministry will invite local and foreign banks in late March to a tender for the financing of five power plant projects estimated to cost US$2.lB billion, The Jakarta Post reported yesterday. The head of the government's
      – Xinhua  -  289 words
    • 343 10 Xinhua [JAKARTA] Indonesia dismissed yesterday fears of a virus reassortment between avian and human seasonal influenza strains in a 2007 human death involving bird flu infection, the country's health ministry senior official said here. Director general of communicable diseases I Nyoman
      Xinhua  -  343 words
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  • GREATER CHINA/INDIA
    • 484 11 He expects the two economies to 'merge', NT$ to be boosted by yuan [SINGAPORE] Jim Rogers, co-founder with George Soros of the Quantum Hedge Fund, is investing in Taiwan on expectations this week's presidential election will install a government that will
      484 words
    • 274 11 Reuters HONG KONG] China Overseas Land Investment Ltd expects net orofit to climb 20 per cent n 2008 as the country's So. 3 real estate developer spends US$4.5 billion to 3xpand its land bank by ibout a quarter. Chairman Kong 3ingping
      Reuters  -  274 words
    • 41 11 AP [AHMEDABAD] Schoolchildren celebrating Holi, the festival of colours, in Ahmedabad, capital of the western Indian state of Gujarat, yesterday. Holi, a festival of fun and frolic meant to welcome spring, will be celebrated across the country tomorrow.
      AP  -  41 words
    • 283 11 Bloomberg [HONG KONG] Industrial Commercial Bank of China Ltd and Standard Chartered pic are among banks that may bid for a US$l.9 billion stake in Hong Kong's family-control-led Wing Lung Bank Ltd, two people familiar with the matter said. Chairman
      Bloomberg  -  283 words
    • 316 11 -Kin- [BEIJING] Ping An Insurance Group, China's second biggest life insurer, said that its net profit jumped 140 per cent last year on record premium revenues, a strengthened banking unit and strong investment returns. Net income rose to 18.7 billion yuan (553.7
      -Kin  -  316 words
    • 404 11 Reuters Surprise spurt points to more months of tight policy: analysts [NEW DELHI] Indian inflation accelerated to close to 6 per cent in early March, a 10-month high far above where the central bank wants it. Analysts said the unexpected spurt meant
      ■ Reuters  -  404 words
    • 182 11 Reuters [MUMBAI] Time Warner Inc's AOL is close to selling its Bangalore call centre to India's Essar group for about US$lOO million in an all-cash deal, The Times of India reported yesterday, citing sources. AOL was likely to make an
      ■ Reuters  -  182 words
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      140 words

  • ASIA-PACIFIC/WORLD
    • 506 12 Bloomberg UK central bank hosts meeting of bank execs in bid to stem financial crisis [LONDON] The Bank of England renewed an offer of emergency short-term funds to banks as it hosted a meeting of executives to try and stem a financial
      Bloomberg  -  506 words
    • 393 12 Reuters [BEIJING] Dell plans to buy US$23 billion of components from China this year and US$29 billion in 2009, helping it reduce costs while the company's main market, the United States, is facing recession. The commoditisation of computer hardware means competition is
      Reuters; BLOOMBERG  -  393 words
    • 574 12 Reuters [ZURICH] Credit Suisse warned on Wednesday that it may make a loss in the first quarter, sparking fears among investors that the bank may suffer further write-downs. Investors, already spooked by February's trading scandal, sent the bank's shares down 11 per
      Reuters  -  574 words
    • 383 12 Bloomberg [BANGKOK] Samak Sundaravej, Thailand's prime minister, pledged yesterday to strengthen US investment even as the world's largest economy considers imposing trade sanctions for intel-lectual-property breaches. "Things were rather uncertain last year; investors and businesses lost some confidence," Mr Samak said
      Bloomberg  -  383 words
    • 777 12 -NYT [SEATTLE] Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz announced sweeping changes for the company on Wednesday as it seeks to reconnect with customers who have left for competitors or pared back their coffee budget in hard economic times. The initiatives are intended to
      -NYT; AP  -  777 words

  • WORLD
    • 66 13 AFP [LONDON] Gallery workers hanging a painting entitled 'The Golden Age 1530' by the German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The painting forms a part of the exhibition 'Cranach' which will run till June 8, and
      AFP  -  66 words
    • 784 13 Reuters rhey point to Fed's aggressive moves; nit healing of credit zrisis will take time [NEW YORK] Less than a week ago, it seemed like the sky was falling on Wall Street when the unravelling of investment bank Bear Steams sent financial markets,
      Reuters  -  784 words
    • 466 13 ■LAT Fannie Mac, Freddie Mac's required capital reduced to 20% from 30% [WASHINGTON] Seeking to boost the US economy by making mortgages cheaper and easier to get, the government said on Wednesday that it would further ease the reins on Fannie Mac and
      ■LAT  -  466 words
    • 528 13 Bloomberg Value of his home falls as crisis engulfs rich Capitol Hill area [NEW YORK] The United States housing recession has arrived literally on the doorstep of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Mr Bernanke lives in Washington's Capitol Hill area in a four-bedroom, 2,600-square-foot
      – Bloomberg  -  528 words
    • 389 13 ■NYT [NEW YORK] They took out adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) at the peak of the housing bubble to buy homes they would otherwise not be able to afford. Or they refinanced existing mortgages to take cash out. And now, two or three years later,
      ■NYT  -  389 words
    • 394 13 Reuters [LONDON] Paul Scofield, hailed as one of the great British actors of his generation and awarded an Oscar for his haunting performance in A Man For All Seasons, has died, aged 86, of leukaemia, his agent said yesterday. Scofield, a
      ■ Reuters; AP  -  394 words

  • AVIATION
    • 697 14 -AP Talks with unions opposing the offer break off, putting the deal at risk [ROME] Air France-KLM's chairman insisted on Wednesday that if his company acquires Alitalia, the ailing Italian flagship airline could be turned around, in the face of stiff resistance
      -AP; AP  -  697 words
    • 495 14 Bloomberg [LONDON] Easy Jet Pic, Europe's second-biggest discount airline, said that full-year earnings may fall short of company forecasts as it struggles to pass increased fuel costs onto passengers. Easy Jet dropped the most in two months after saying pretax profit through Sept
      Bloomberg  -  495 words
    • 182 14 [MADRID] British Airways pic, Europe's third largest airline, has boosted its stake in Spanish carrier Iberia Lineas Aereas de EspanaSAto 13.15 per cent and said that it may increase the holding further. BA bought 28.7 million shares at 2.34 euros (555.02) apiece, the
      182 words
    • 340 14 Bloomberg US$lO-20f0r4 more inches, based on length of flight [ATLANTA] Jetßlue Airways Corp, which offers free in-flight e-mail and television, will charge US$lO to US$2O more for certain seats with extra legroom in an effort to increase revenue. Six rows on
      Bloomberg; BLOOMBERG  -  340 words
    • 195 14 AFP [DUBAI] A new budget carrier set up by the government of the booming Gulf emirate of Dubai will launch within a year, the airline's new chief executive officer said in a newspaper interview published yesterday. "We expect to start the
      AFP  -  195 words
    • 2452 14 AIRLINE CODES: an Airlines (AAL), AF: Air France (AFR), Al: Air India (AIC), AY: Finnair Oy (FIN), AZ: Alitalia Airlines (AZA), BA: British Airways Public Ltd Co (BAW), E G: Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BBC), Bl: Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd (RBA), BO: Bouraq Airlines (BOU), BR:
      2,452 words

  • SHIPPING/AVIATION
    • 395 15 Reuters Purging China trade :o more than offset ;lowing American economy: official [PANAMA CITY] Panama's ports expect shipping container volumes to grow by a fifth this year despite a slowing US economy as Chinese trade surges, the head of the country's top
      Reuters; AFP  -  395 words
    • 280 15 Bloomberg [JAKARTA] PT Berlian Laju Tanker, Indonesia's biggest shipping company by value, must cut debt in four months to comply with bond covenants and avoid the risk of a default. The Jakarta-based company's debt to equity ratio stood at
      Bloomberg  -  280 words
    • 208 15 Bloomberg Move is part of carrier's efforts to optimise network [COPENHAGEN] AP Moel-ler-Maersk A/S, owner of the world's largest container shipping line, will end a service linking ports on the eastern coasts of North and South America amid weakening demand on
      Bloomberg  -  208 words
    • 155 15 Bloomberg [SHANGHAI] Jiangsu Lianyungang Port Co, the Chinese port operator that listed in Shanghai last year, aims to boost profit 15 per cent this year on rising trade. Cargo volume may rise to more than 50 million tonnes from 40.8 million tonnes last year,
      Bloomberg  -  155 words
    • 229 15 Reuters [GENEVA] Freight rates are likely to fall after 2009 as new shipbuilding capacity comes onstream, but handysize rates used for sugar shipments may fall less than rates for larger vessels, a shipping expert said on Wednesday. "2009 might be the turning
      ■ Reuters  -  229 words
    • 276 15 Bloomberg [HONG KONG] STX Shipbuilding Co, the first South Korean company to build vessels in China, received a combined US$353 million of orders from Europe to build four vessels for carrying iron ore and chemical products. The shipyard will build two so-called Very
      – Bloomberg; BLOOMBERG  -  276 words
    • TRANSPORT STOCKS
      • 106 15 '000 CH Offshore Chuan Hup Hldgs Cosco Corp CWTLtd Ezra Hldgs First Ship Lease Freight Links Grand Banks laya Hold Ltd KiVentures Keppel Corp MTQCorp NOL Pacific Shipping Pan-United Corp Rickmers Mari Samudera Ship Sembcorp Indust Sembcorp Marine Spore Ship Star Cruises 0.50 0.37 2.97 0.82 1.61 1.07 0.06
        106 words
      • 32 15 '000 Int'G Logistics MISCBhd MISC Foreign Msia Bulk Carrie NCB Holdings Nepline Brid 0.70 7.85 8.15 3.80 3.12 0.22 unch -0.20 0.45 unch unch 0.01 43: 511 62: 84< 4( 8!
        32 words
      • 12 15 ■oo ■recious Ship Jegional Cont 22.90 23.80 -0.50 -0.10 176! 13)
        12 words
      • 12 15 '000 lar Doil iingamas Cont .41.65 ...1.91 0.15 -0.03 1431 614
        12 words
      • 22 15 '000 Aboitiz Equity Intl Container Keppel Marine Keppel Prop 6.80 33.50 unch unch 0.20 1.50 unch unch 731 1286 0 0
        22 words
      • 27 15 lar 20 NTS Vol Evergreen Marine ....29.90 :irst Steamship 65.00 /Van Hai Lines 28.15 r"ang Ming Marine ..23.50 1.90 0.50 1.10 1.15 4! i 1( 3!
        27 words
      • 37 15 '000 :awasaki Hvy Ind ..219.00 9.00 ***** :awasaki Kisen ...92unch 47.00 8581 /litsubishi Hvy 411.00 14.00 ***** /litsui Eng&Sbldg ..254.00 8.00 ***** /litsuiOsk Lines ...1183.00 42.00 ***** Jippon Express ....54unch 11.00 3141 lipponYusen 862.00 26.00 6545
        37 words
    • 136 15 Reuters [MOSCOW] Russia's State Development Bank plans to spend up to 30 billion roubles (Ssl.B billion) in mid-2008 acquiring up to 20 per cent of United Aviation Corp (UAC), which groups Russian aircraft makers, a bank official said yesterday. The bank's deputy
      Reuters  -  136 words
    • 241 15 Reuters [FRANKFURT] Frankfurt airport operator Fraport expects core profit to rise again next year as sales gain, reversing an expected revenue drop this year, it said in its annual report yesterday. But Fraport said rising depreciation and amortisation costs and higher interest
      ■ Reuters; AFP  -  241 words

  • EDITORIAL & OPINION
    • 454 16 AFTER several years of impressive achievement, Singapore's real estate investment trust or Reit sector is clearly facing more testing times. In theory at least, the defensive nature of Reits with their dividend yields should be good shelter for investors in the current volatile market. Instead,
      454 words
    • 1054 16  -  LEON HADAR Greater oversight and transparency of financial industry needed to regain market trust FOR a while, officials, lawmakers and pundits in Washington were debating whether the American economy was or soon would be in a recession. The key historical analogy applied in
      BLOOMBERG  -  1,054 words
    • 795 16  -  ANDY MUKHERJEE THE BOTTOM LINE THE much-anticipated US recession, if and when it does arrive, will undoubtedly extract a price from economies in the Asia-Pacific. That doesn't mean that the US Federal Reserve's efforts at mitigating the slowdown are going to be
      795 words
    • 1532 17  -  STEPHEN HORAN Investment research can vary significantly in terms of quality and usefulness; it pays to look at how professionals use it 3y SECURITIES analyst research is a valuable tool that can help both sophisticated investors as well as beginners to make better investing decisions.
      AP  -  1,532 words
    • 867 17  -  CHRISTOPHER CERF LAT-WP By and VICTOR NAVASKY WITH the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq upon us, it seems to be generally agreed by most experts that the "surge" is working, that despite continuing casualties, we have at last reached a "turning
      – LAT-WP; AFP  -  867 words
    • 110 17 LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN the letter, "Investors deserve better info on returns on investments" (BT, March 14), Leong Sze Hian suggested that the CPF Board publish unrealised returns of investments made under the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS). Since 2004, the board has released, on an annual
      110 words


  • SINGAPORE STOCKS
    • 7578 18 Transaction date: Mar 20 52-wks Tel |h Low Code Last Sale Vol ('000) Hii Day Last Quote Div GrYld Net |h Low Buyer Seller C'vr P/E M Cap $mil Hii Com[ 5716 1st Software 22 6.5 3148 STelecom S fc s F °s n& 71] is i£u c°:<:.
      7,578 words
    • 63 18 J_! Low Code Comi Sale COOO) J_! Low B_ Seller C'vr P/E imil 200 116 6065 Diamonds 6200 5000 6095 IS DJ US Tech 1000 1000 6097 IS MSCI Spore ***** ***** 6101 ISS&P500 ***** ***** 6170 SPDRS 3983 288 6009 STI ETF 3977.9 3013.7 6010 STI ETF
      63 words
    • 1987 18 52-Wk Tel High Low Code Last Sale Vol COOO) Day Last Quote Div GrYld Net MCap |h Low Buyer Seller C'vr P/E $mil Comi >an< Hii 30 11.5 1181 s AAGrp 41.5 18 5000 s ABR Hldgs 31 18.5 8538 s APStrategic 16.5 2.5 1501 s Advanced System
      1,987 words
    • 208 18 STOCK PRICES LEGEND: Straits Times Index Stocks; s Catalist Non-Sponsored; t Catalist; N Net or Tax-exempted dividend; ct Conditional Trdg; xd ex-dividend cd cum dividend; cri cum right issue cbi cum bonus issue; xri ex-right issue; xbi ex-bonus issue xall ex-all; cdxa cum dividend ex-all co cum offer
      208 words
  • Page 18 Advertisements

  • FINANCE & COMMODITIES
    • 362 19 %dy %yr dy yr dy yr Index Change Change Change Change Change Change Mar 19 World Index Preliminan 977.1 -0.2 -13.7 -0.2 -14.4 -0.8 -11.1 EAFE Preliminan 921.9 0.3 -17.7 -0.2 -15.7 -0.7 -12.: Euro[ Preliminan 1279.9 -0.8 -17.1 -1.4 -16.0 -1.9 -12.7 Pacific 775.5
      362 words
    • 134 19 As at 9am Mar 20 Singapore dollars to one unit of foreign currency: Currencies Bid Offer Aust dollar 1.2590 1.2750 Can dollar 1.3590 1.3760 Euro 2.1510 2.1760 NZ dollar 1.0980 1.1220 Sterlin iund 2.7350 2.7671 US dollar 1.3810 1.3960 Local dollars to 100 units of foreign
      134 words
    • 162 19 Mar 20 $S_ Offer Bid Overnight 3/4 1-month 1 1/4 2-months 1 1/4 3-months 1 5/16 Overnight mode: 1 1/8 US$ Offer 5/8 1 1/8 1 1/8 1 3/16 Bid 7 days 1 month 2 months 3 months 6 months 9 months 12 months SFr 2.90 2.65 2.65
      162 words
    • 25 19 Mar 20 ten Hii Sett STI SIMSCI Mar 351 354.3 350.8 Taiwan Mar 313.3 323.6 322.5 Source: MF Global (S) Pte. Ltd
      25 words
    • 21 19 Mar 20 Bid Offer 1-month 1.3848 1.386 2-months 1.3832 1.3845 3-months 1.3823 1.3837 6-months 1.3792 1.3807 Source: OCBC
      21 words
    • 156 19 Mar 20 Against SS Currencies Bid Offer Against US$ Bid Offer S$fUS$ to one unit of foreign currency: Australian dollar 1.2666 1.2681 0.9134 0.9138 Canadian dollar 1.3623 1.3638 0.9824 0.9828 Euro 2.1598 2.1618 1.5575 1.5578 NZ dollar 1.1125 1.1142 0.8023 0.8029 Sterlim 2.7457 2.7481 1.9800 1.9803 US
      156 words
    • 272 19 Mar 20 OPEN HIGH LOW SETT VOL OP/INT EURODOLLAR FUTURES JunO8 SepO8 DecO8 MarO9 97.780 97.920 97.885 97.860 0 0 0 0 ***** ***** 7266 6935 EUROYEN FUTURES JunO8 99.260 99.260 SepO8 DecO8 MarO9 JunO9 SepO9 DecO9 Mar10 99.260 99.355A 99.260 99.345 99.340 99.320 99.275 99.220 99.195
      272 words
    • 292 19 Mar 20 KUbbbK Futures (Closing prices) RSS 1 (S cents/kg) Month High I Low Close Sett Volume (tonnes) Open Interest Apr 08 May 08 Jun 08 Jul/Sep 08 Oct/Dec 08 Jan/Mar 09 382.25 383.75 384.00 384.25 384.25 386.00 RSS 3 (US cents/kg) Month HigJ ih Low Sett Volume
      292 words
    • 103 19 Mar 19 SOYBEANS (5,000 bu min; US cents/60 Ib bushels) Close Previous High/Low May 08 1257.00 1307.00 1268.00 1257.00 Jul 08 1272.00 1322.00 1288.00 1272.00 Aug 08 1266.00 1316.00 1275.00 1266.00 Sep 08 1240.00 1290.00 1270.00 1240.00 SOYBEAN/OIL (60,000 lbs;Uscent/lb) Close Previous High/Low May 08 56.40 58.40 56.85
      103 words
    • 76 19 CRUDE OIL PRODUCTS Mar 19 CRUDE (FOB origin) US$/barrel Close Cham Brent blend (1-Mth F) 101.82 -2.66 WTI (Near Mth) 103.94 -5.27 Dubai (1-Mth F) 98.91 1.18 Tapis blend 110.75 0.9 Minas 106.4 0.9 PRODUCT US$/barrel (FOB S'pore) Close Change Naphtha Jet Kerosene 97.80 130.35 3.23 2.28 US$/barrel Opec Oil
      76 words
    • 468 19 Mar 20 AS Rmb Euro HKS Ind Rs Ri Yen Won RM NZS Pak Rs Peso SS Rand Sfr NTS Baht Pound us: Australia 0.930 6.445 0.587 7.106 36.992 83.914 0.907 9.226 2.903 1.138 57.470 37.892 1.267 7.422 0.916 28.029 28.573 0.461 0.914 Canada 1.076 6.932 0.631
      468 words
    • 91 19 Mar 20 TREASURY BILLS Period Issue code Maturity Yesterday's Bid Hii Day's [h Low 3-Month BQ*****H 19.06.08 1-Year BY*****A 29.09.08 0.83 0.94 0.73 0.73 GOVERNMENT BONDS Period Issue Coupon Maturity code rate Close Bid Day's High Low 2-Year N5O51OOF 2.625 5-Year N*****1E 2.500 7-Year NX*****F 3.625 10-Year NY*****F
      91 words
    • 78 19 Mar 20 (US$) (S$) 2.***** 1.***** 1 mth 2 mths 2.***** 1.***** 3 mths 2.***** 1.***** 6 mths 2.***** 1.***** 9 mths 2.***** 1.***** 12 mths 2.***** 1.***** SWAP Offer rates (S$) 1 mth 1.***** 2 mths 1.***** 3 mths 1.***** 6 mths 1.***** 9 mths 1.***** 12 mths
      78 words
    • 61 19 Mar 19 Delivery Month Opening Range Sett Av Price Price Hii Vol Open Done Position Low Apr 08 3460 3344 3464 3254 329 1791 May 08 3460 3345 3466 3234 3772 ***** JunO8 3428 3330 3470 3229 ***** ***** Jul 08 3441 3320 3455 3230 1924 4433 Total
      61 words
    • 169 19 Mar 20 CaULU (USS/oz) Mar 20 Mar 19 GOLD BULLION COINS (S$) Sellini Hong Kong 920.00 991.30 921.00 992.30 Mar 19 Mar 18 London 943.30 1004.70 944.00 1005.00 Source: Reuters (S$) Selling Buying 1 oz 1454.13 1311 UBS GOLD LUNAR KINEBAR (S$) Selling Buying 10gm $510.39 418 SILVER
      169 words
    • 70 19 Mar 19 Aluminium, 99.7% purity (USS/tonne) Close Previous Cash 2880.80 2955.20 3 months 2920.00 2995.00 Copper, Grade A (USS/tonne) Cash 3 months 8103.00 7979.00 8345.00 8216.00 Lead (USS/tonne) Cash 2824.20 3 months 2835.00 2943.50 2945.00 Nickel (USS/tonne) Cash 3 months *****.00 *****.00 *****.00 *****.00 Tin (USS/tonne) Cash 3
      70 words
    • 78 19 Mar 19 COCOA (Btonne) Close Prev Hii ih/Low May 08 1334 1415 1464/1333 JulO8 1361 1460 1511/1360 SepO8 1311 1381 1420/1317 Dec 08 1301 1378 1409/1303 COFFEE (US$/tonne) Close Pev High/Low Mar 08 2485 2434 2485/2443 May 07 2485 2444 2530/2435 JulO8 2345 2445 2510/2315 SepO8 2335 2446 2507/2298
      78 words
    • 1764 19 BONDS WARRANTS rei Sode Company Last Vol Conv Exer Sale +or- COOO) Ratio Price Disc Gear- Mths ing Left ttArianeCorp Ltd W*****9 0.5 -0.5 744 1 5 21 )092Asia Environment W*****4 16 -1.5 301 1 38 2 3.31 17 !878Aztech Systems W*****6 4.5 0.5 15 1 51 164 4.67 28
      1,764 words

  • Page 20 Advertisements
    • 2708 20 m The Business Times Shipping times A __mM RPI __kll WAN HAI INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD CRN0:**********0/R M m m_.W_^ _K\_m Mmmlmtm»mi^mm mm I Vr_r."l ■■■mi. ■■>■ TEL:*****588 04 LINES) FAX:*****163 1 am___^^maT^_^_^^m _\__m I \\\N 1 WAN HAI INF\ Customer Service/Bookings Dir«<l Line (1800) *****200 ■•ll^^^^^^M WIBBBBBBHHyBBI I V Nil
      2,708 words

  • Page 21 Advertisements
    • 3417 21 f f^3v Lrtff IfIFT" EASTERN CAR LINER. LTD I t§) SJCgli^M O GIST/ C fl\ 1 &B m tf-=-l spec.al.ze IN roro j heavy l.ft UPTO 450 tonT] WEEKLY EXPRESS SAILING SCHEDULE /t^^v <P _P-r--JH£I*I. ..U..MII!Ii.„BmiJJ-„fl!lMW^^ //mmmmhr\\ fTK W^-?*WMwV r-' '-mS \lmjß3EmWmm\ VOY Ramp(KT) Lilting(KT) SIN PKL btl LCB JKT
      3,417 words

  • Page 22 Advertisements
    • 2790 22 ___^^^^W I I A MnCDCCMH Tel: 65-*****907 Fax: *****917 I ___F>___L_^B ___-9 151 ___-9 ___-9 H K5 /\NL)--.KS--_N Emaihasc@ascasia.com I WSM Rl fIRY NAUIfiJIT-fllU RRAIIP I H_T.QRt^H H_!_l \__^mf\ shipping compa«v7 70ShentonWay, #21-03 Marina House Singapore *****8 MQA UI.WH I llflliait lIUII OnUUr Mi NORTH WEST EXPRESS LINE T"^ *fft4fc*J_SU*ls«MS^
      2,790 words

  • Page 23 Advertisements
    • 3349 23 ETA ETA Advertiser Vessel Voyage Telephone ETA ETA Advertiser Vessel Voyage Telephone ETA ETA Advertiser Vessel Voyage Telephone ETA ETA Advertiser Vessel Voyage Telephone ETA ETA Advertiser Vessel Voyage Telephone SIN Dest'n Name Name Number Number SIN Dest'n Name Name Number Number SIN Dest'n Name Name Number Number SIN Dest'n
      3,349 words


  • Page 25 Advertisements
    • 506 25 I II fW] OURJOUR DINING PLEASURE ml iiiillll 1-3 ft M TWIN TEMPTATIONS T s Enjoy a delectable set lunch menu ($38 and your partner enjoys a free set lunch. (Till 30 May, Mondays to Fridays) |L"2 R l^B V T$ II BRING YOUR OWN "^j 1 Custom-tailor your gastronomic
      506 words


  • Page 27 Miscellaneous
    • 408 27 CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Two men shortly coming n —i r —i r —i 1 n —^H/ —[?i —I [7 —l from northern France (8) I 5 A rear admiral goes round ___t ___t extremely enthusiastic fleet _H 1 9 Cliff embraced independent hh mm mm hh man M__ ___M
      408 words

  • executive lifestyle
    • 551 28 off the cuff jaime cc SO, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is finally putting its official clout behind something that many of us un-Bo-toxed, un-colonicised, un-lightened and generally constipated aging old bats have privately suspected that aesthetic treatments designed to give you a second shot
      551 words
    • 1753 28 Hong Kong's wine tax abolition may send consumers flocking there instead of S'pore for their purchases, CHRISTOPHER LIM finds out more IT wasn't so long ago that Singapore fancied itself as the wine hub of Asia, given its highly competitive tax regime that taxed alcohol on
      ACKER MERRAL & CONDIT, GIORGIO FERRARI  -  1,753 words
    • PURSUITS
      • 803 24 GAMING The game's strong and athletic female protagonist is refreshing and overdue, writes CHRISTOPHER LIM GAME developers are starting to realise that they need to move beyond the standard genres of action, sports, combat and role-playing to provide a refreshing new blend to keep customers
        803 words
      • 745 24  -  CHRISTOPHER LIM NIGHT OUT By EXCLUSIVITY is a nebulous term when it comes to parties these days. It's such a hip label that everyone is using it for their events, regardless of whether or not those events are actually exclusive in
        745 words
      • 1006 24  -  N KYONG WINE By IT would be a safe bet to say that 90 per cent of fine wines are drunk too young before they are fully developed. The percentage could be higher. The average wine stores hardly stock older vintages, i.e. more than
        1,006 words
    • CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD RACE
      • 811 25 Race crews to remain in Hawaii until all stainless steel fittings that connect mast rigging wires are replaced, reports VINCENT WEE THERE is nothing that brings together a family more than tough times. This week, the Clipper family has had to band
        ONEDITION  -  811 words
    • PROFILE/ARTS
      • 1071 26 Singaporean Aziz Abdat designs wedding gowns and runs a bed breakfast in his Amsterdam house, writes MICHELLE QUAH IT'S the *****. A young Singaporean boy with little education and even less money decides to travel alone to the bustling European city of Amsterdam. Driven by
        AZIZ ABDA-  -  1,071 words
      • 569 26  -  CLARA CHOW BOOK REVIEW The Night of the Mi'raj by Zoe Ferraris Little Brown Pages: 356 Price: $41.50 w/o GST By A TEENAGED girl from a wealthy Saudi dynasty disappears on the eve of her arranged marriage, with only a camel, into the
        569 words
      • Article, Illustration
        664 26  -  PARVATHI NAYAR Auction preview AS auction previews go, this one is more intriguing than some others, and not only because there is a 72.22 carat pear shaped diamond worth HKS7B to HKSIOO million on view Rather, the viewing of auction highlights that opens today, marks the first preview of
        664 words
    • ENTERTAINMENT
      • 653 27  -  GEOFFREY EU Michel Gondry's new film, Be Kind Rewind, comes icross as either a little too simplistic or too clever or its own good, writes THE French director and screenwriter Michel Gondry is nothing if not an inventive filmmaker, adept at conveying a
        653 words
      • 485 27  -  GEOFFREY EU By SITTING through Vantage Point, a taut but contrived and ultimately disappointing thriller directed by Pete Travis, is a little like watching Groundhog Day, the 1993 comedy starring Bill Murray only it's not as funny and has more bombs. Actually,
        485 words
      • 526 27  -  CHRISTOPHER LIM By THE home of jazz is in the lounge and bar, regardless of the stature of an artist. Overseas, this means that small clubs like the Village Vanguard in New York's Greenwich Village are packed, and well known as destinations in
        526 words
      • 604 27  -  BEN MUNROE CD REVIEW Greatest Hits Morrissey Decca/Universal Seventh Tree Goldfrapp Mute/EMI B 3y POOR Morrissey. He hit the [leadlines again recently for all the wrong reasons, rhere's been flak for his Dvertly nationalistic statements and posturing with the Union Jack, and he
        604 words
      • 434 27  -  PARVATHI NAYAR DVD By KERI Russell is Hollywood's new Reese Witherspoon, filling the always-in-demand niche of quirkycute femininity balanced by a down-to-earth quality. No surprise that she's suddenly popping up everywhere, including director/ writer/actress Adrienne Shelly's Waitress, which made its debut at Sundance
        434 words
  • Page 28 Miscellaneous