The Business Times, 21 March 1998

Microfilm: NL21174
Total Pages: 28
1 28 The Business Times
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  • Title Section
    Masthead
    16 1 THE BUSINESS TIMES MIT A (P) 110/12/97 85c SINGAPORE Internet: http://www.asia!.com.sg/biztimes WEEKEND EDITION, MARCH 21-22, 1998
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  • Article
    MARKET SUMMARY
    61 1 sra until (-19.64) BT-SBI M 8.46 (-5.91) BTOOHP 1,465.74 (-15.39) BTCOHP 825.44 (-9.15) CTOCK MA1KET OTMCES Friday Change KLSE COUP 731.24 +010 NIKKEI 16y830.47 +151.45 HANG SENG 11,564 +118.19 SET INDEX 499.76 3.80 JAKARTA COMP 518.73 +t!58 MANILA COMP 1415 TAIPEI WPl +44.82 SEOUL COMP 525.95 +412 CLSA
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  • Article
    FINANCE
    76 1 FOOT BATES us* ss US# 1.606 £(l'S$/S$ per 1.683 2.668 DM 1.831 0.876 YEN 130.9 1234* MS 3.645 0.440 HKS 7.749 0207 BAHT 39.45 0.041 RIP1AH 9JS50 0.017* 'St to 100 units PUME RATES SINGAPORE* 7.81 KUALA LUMPUR 13.00 JAKARTA .2.00 BANGKOK 15.50 MANILA .27.50 HONGKONG 10.25 TAIPEI AW
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  • Article, Illustration
    Jakarta shelves peg, imposes 5% forex tax
    890 1  -  Fresh deal with IMF looks likely; new rnpiah curb for travellers soon From Greg Earl in Jakarta THE Indonesian government yesterday shelved its controversial plans for a currency board and moved to stem speculation in the rupiah, amid indications that its latest negotiations
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  • Article, Illustration
    Lock icon Temasek takes 20% stake in HPL's Bali Hard Rock resort
    411 1  -  By. Abdul Hadhi [SINGAPORE] Well-known Singapore businessman Ong Beng Seng's listed Hotel Properties Ltd (HPL) has roped in Temasek Holdings to jointly develop and run Asia's first Hard Rock hotel and resort in Bali, which is scheduled to open in
    FILE PHOTO  -  411 words
  • Article
    FCC's half-time profits plunge 93% to $6m
    615 1  -  Developer nnable to predict performance for current half-year By Lee Han Shih [SINGAPORE] It was expected to be bad, but property company First Capital Corporation has unveiled a set of results that far exceeded even the worst expectations. For the last six months
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  • Article
    S'pore property stocks retreat
    245 1  -  Brokers say selling expected given sharp rises this week By] R Sivanithy (SINGAPORE] Property stocks pulled back yesterday after surging 10 per cent on Thursday as punters cashed in their chips. The swift pullback pared the SES Properties Index by 4.4 per cent, which contributed to
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      Page 1 Advertisements Column 1
      128 1 msn>E Underlying weakness Singapore's non-oil domestic exports surged 28% year-on-year in February, but analysts say the figure masks underlying weakness in the export trend, Pg2 ■Etoesrift Bffl Gates 4,000 Singaporeans packed the auditorium to hear the world's richest man speak last Thursday. Kenneth James tries to find out the secret
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      Page 1 Advertisements Column 2
      8 1 Is Ongßeng Seng selling London hotels, Pg 2
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      Page 1 Advertisements Column 3
      90 1 M&rkets in Turmoil, Pg 5 J The Mauboussin 'Grand Prix' watch. IHK white gold with diamonds, mother of pearl and onyx. IVI^UBOUSSIN since 1827 EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT: ROY EASTERN WATCH #01-86/88 #01-74 Lucky Plaza 304 Orchard Road Singapore *****3 Tel: (65) 734 3139 (65) 734 1935 DELUXE EASTERN WATCH #01-18/20
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  • SINGAPORE AT HOME & ABROAD
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Non-oil exports up 28% but it's no cause for cheer
      490 2  -  Analysts warn that Feb figures hide underlying weakness in trend By. Audrey Tan NON-OIL domestic exports surged an impressive 28.1 per cent year-on-year in February, but analysts said the figure masks an underlying weakness in Singapore's export trend. The Trade
      Source: TDB  -  490 words
    • Article
      Philip Yeo, Chng Hee Kok patch up
      237 2 ECONOMIC Development Board chairman Philip Yeo and Member of Parliament Chng Hee Kok have patched up following their recent spat over the public naming of scholarship bond breakers. In a letter to Mr Chng dated yesterday, the EDB boss apologised for having asked
      237 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Savings fund to replace SAF pension scheme
      354 2  -  YESTERDAY DV PARLIAMENT Hove to make career in SAF rewarding, says Chee Qean Reports by David Boey PARLIAMENT yesterday passed an amendment to the Constitution that allows the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces to replace their Pension and Contract schemes
      FILE PHOTO  -  354 words
    • Article
      Tertiary education: changes to be unveiled in April
      430 2 MORE opportunities for adult education are on the way and will be announced in April, Education Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament yesterday. Responding to queries by MPs, Rear-Adm Teo said key changes are in the pipeline for university education in Singapore.
      430 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Ong Beng Seng selling London hotels?
      444 2  -  Hotelier said to be keen to sell H&lkin and Metropolitan From, Neil Behrmann in Ixmdon BILLIONAIRE Ong Beng Seng has discreetly indicated he is keen to dispose of two prestigious hotels in London, sources said. According to one hotel specialist in London, Mr Ong
      444 words
    • Article
      3 firms win 'go regional' incentives
      368 2  -  By Frances Lui THREE local companies IPACS Asia, THL Food Holdings and Zagro Asia were yesterday awarded the Economic Development Board's Overseas Enterprise Incentive (OEI). Set up 14 years ago as a one-man company, IPACS Asia is today a regional group with 15 offices
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    • Article
      Productivity key to firms' resilience, says Boon Heng
      277 2  -  By Ven Sreenivasan THE prevailing economic difficulties underscored the need for companies to continue raising productivity and quality, Minister without Portfolio Lim Boon Heng said yesterday. Speaking at the Productivity and Standards Board Awards dinner, Mr Lim noted that there were two
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    • Article
      Lock icon Met Service: haze may return if fires spread
      353 2 The Straits Times WITH much-needed rainfall not expected in most parts of Borneo until the end of the year, there is a real danger of the smoke haze blanketing the region again if the fires continue to spread. The cloud of smoke
      The Straits Times  -  353 words
  • Page 2 Miscellaneous
    • Miscellaneous
      Page 2 Miscellaneous Column 1
      380 2 THE WEATHER Singapore: Pair and warm. Temperature(33-26) AaU-Padflc Hi/Lo* (M. Pa i| i Omd. Mmmtm m/l* 0 Cood. Anrklaad »IJ Cloudy IwtonlMi 07*0 Cloudy Buh*«iA«w WU Swy Banifc* XI ti lV*dv Aim IU» Sfcimm Bm WW Sumy Bote oft4> Cloudy Sl!s Bombay 14,18 Sump, Boh OMM Claudy BruitM S>« H«v
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  • Page 3 Advertisements
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      Page 3 Advertisements Column 1
      70 3 j£ Jkm _i B JF r fj MM W JB n f r B FjB l« B —"W Lf MB 1 $&<. v- B B k9 jjfl fWpr ■T^Mr* J:-, i '-amffi^^^^^Mte, 11 sc..: -r jf M .^B*w •f^ J jr' Jp JP*\ ;|>'^ vb J v J •M,,. v
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  • FOCUS:PERSONAL FINANCE & INVESTMENT
    • BULL'S EYE
      • Article, Illustration
        BT Sentiment Index
        702 4 Those polled for their views on the Singapore stock market outlook for next week were: Alliance, Daiwa, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, GK Goh, ING Barings, Kay Hian, Merrill Lynch, Phillip, Indosuez WI Carr. Natsteel Broadway ♦(Buy) Indosuez WI Carr, Mar 19, US$l.l5 Impressive FY97 results highlight Natsteel Broadway's
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      • Article, Illustration
        In My Opinion
        383 4  -  Tay Soo How Pond manager Citibank Global Asset Management HE Singapore econoI my is one of the most A open economies in the world, with a trade volume much greater than the nation's gross domestic product. As such, the exchange rate of the Singapore dollar and local
        383 words
    • Article, Illustration
      The Selth method to better returns on stocks
      1023 4  -  Forget about trying to figure out where markets are going. Bankers Trust's Christopher Selth looks at stocks first By Shiv Taneja [SINGAPORE] WHEN it comes to the big guns of global investing, the one name you probably haven't heard of is that
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    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Jakarta stockmarket is only for the intrepid
      741 4  -  EYE ON THE REGION: INDONESIA Economy in confnsed state and situation may worsen From\ S N Vasuki in Jakarta THE Jakarta stockmarket has become a haven for punters willing to take contrarian bets on Indonesia. Those who disregarded the gloomy assessments and plunged
      FILE PHOTO  -  741 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Car buying patterns may be going into reverse
      704 4  -  Lower-priced cars selling well once again By I Christopher Tan [SINGAPORE] With COE premiums where they are now hovering around $25,000 to $30,000 the market is beginning to revert to its pre-quota, "free-market" form, or at least starting to show some semblance
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  • MARKETS IN TURMOIL
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Japanese non-committal on Indon private-sector debts
      688 5  -  Bankers said to have given Habibie no assurance on debt rescheduling From, Anthony Rowley in Tokyo INDONESIAN Vice-Presi-dent B J Habibie was understood to have received no assurance from leading Japanese bankers yesterday that they were willing to reschedule his country's privatesector debts. A
      REUTERS  -  688 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Indonesia breaching agreed IMF reforms: Aussie govt report
      326 5 Bloomberg [SYDNEY] Indonesia is on the brink of hyper-inflation and is in serious breach of economic reforms agreed with the International Monetary Fund, a report prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Australian government said, the Australian Financial Review reported.
      Bloomberg  -  326 words
    • Article
      HK$ not overvalued, says HKMA
      379 5  -  Visiting deputy chief in rigorous defence of HK$ peg to US$ By' Wong Wei Kong [SINGAPORE] The Hongkong dollar is not overvalued, Andrew Sheng, deputy chief executive of the Hongkong Monetary Authority, said yesterday in a rigorous defence of Hongkong's peg. Speaking at a luncheon
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    • Article, Illustration
      SM Lee confident of S Korean recovery
      539 5 Its industrial capacity, know-how, adaptability help SENIOR Minister Lee Kuan Yew said that it was not profligacy which brought the South Korean economy to its knees, and expressed strong confidence in its recovery because the country has the technology to do it. South
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    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Rupiah leaps 7% to break 10,000 barrier
      450 5  -  Japan, US said to be working on rescue plan for Indonesia "y Larry Wee [SINGAPORE] Market talk of concerted efforts by senior Japanese and US officials to work out a comprehensive rescue plan for Indonesia gave a sharp boost to the Indonesian rupiah
      Source: Dow Jones  -  450 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Moody's cuts Indonesia's credit rating down to B3
      451 5 Bloomberg [HONGKONG] Indonesia's sovereign foreign currency credit ratings were downgraded to B3 by Moody's Investors Service Inc. reflecting the country's failure to meet the conditions of its US$4O billion (5564.1 billion) International Monetary Fund-spon-sored economic aid and reform package. "The downgrades were
      Bloomberg  -  451 words
    • Article
      Lock icon M'sia defers currency futures contract launch
      231 5 Reuters [KUALA LUMPUR] The Malaysia Monetary Exchange (MME) said yesterday it has postponed the launching of a currency futures contract due to the regional financial crisis. Disclosing that the decision was made a few days ago, MME executive chairman Syed Jabbar Shahabuddin said: "We
      Reuters  -  231 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Lower interest rates only when won is stable: BOK
      223 5 AFP [SEOUL] The Bank of Korea (BOK) said yesterday that interest rates could be lowered only when stability returns to South Korea's foreign exchange market. "But there has been no agreement with the IMF on how much and when to lower
      AFP  -  223 words
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  • Page 6 Advertisements
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      133 6 THL FOOD HOLDINGS PTE LTD Overseas Enterprise Incentive Award Embassy of Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vietnam Economic Trade Office H. E. Mr Nguyen Due Hung Mr Dang Van Thang Ambassador Commercial Counselor -f I y n j i r CT f IWIMHrTMI I /e HII THL FOOD HOLDINGS PTE LTD
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      682 7 THL FOOD HOLDINGS PTE LTD HKI I MESSAGE THL FOOD I I I fIpHH We are honoured to be We have been in the food business for 30 yean. I I PBUPHH conferred the prestigious Today, we are an Asian food group engaged I I Till ~-S| Overseas Enterprise primarily
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  • THE REGION
    • Article
      Supply of HK private homes falls short of target
      692 8  -  Only 18,200 completed last year against govt goal of 40,000, says report From Quak Hiang Whai in Hongkong THE Hongkong residential sector may be in a much better shape than generally feared as projected supply falls well short of the government's
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    • Article
      Lock icon Up for grabs: Three attractive HK sites
      440 8 HONGKONG Reuters THREE attractive plots of land are up for sale in Hongkong but cash-strapped real estate developers are likely to be cautious with their money. Home prices have dropped some 30 per cent since last October, when Asia's regional financial troubles hit,
      Reuters  -  440 words
    • Article
      AIRCRAFT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
      1704 8 CITY FLIGHT ETA FLIGHT CTD QF06 1840 LH779 2359 AdalaMa BA738! 1930 8A7382 2050 Fataoka S0989 1730 S0990 0115 0F81 1930 0F82 2050 Guangzhou PBC C2351 2035 M2W 2220 Hanqzhou S0809 2130 S08W W20 Amsterdam KL843 0550 S0346 2330 Hmoi VN741 1310 S0176 1130 S025 0700
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    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Chuan denies talk of reshuffle
      406 8  -  Rumours rife after opposition attacks ministers From Harish Mehta in Bangkok THAI Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday denied speculation that he would reshuffle the cabinet soon to axe a minister who was attacked by the opposition for alleged misconduct and bribery during a no-confidence debate
      REUTERS  -  406 words
    • Article
      Thai slogan backfires
      432 8  -  LETTER FROM BANGKOK 'Amazing Thailand' tourism promotion gets off to rocky start By Bruce Cheesman Ujk MAZING Thailand", /l Bangkok's latest f tourism promotion, has 1 lived up to its reputation for all the wrong reasons. The biggest tourism promotion in Asia this year got off to
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    • Article
      Lock icon M'sian lawyers protest against use of ISA for open burning cases
      308 8 KUALA LUMPUR Bar council calls move a blatant case of ISA misapplication AFP MALAYSIAN lawyers protested yesterday against the government's plan to use the strict Internal Security Act (ISA) against open burning offenders. Bar Council president Cyrus Das said
      AFP  -  308 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Ramos to witness Philippines' exit from IMF programme
      250 8 MANILA AFP PRESIDENT Fidel Ramos will witness ceremonies marking the Philippines' exit from 35 years of International Monetary Fund (IMF) tutelage during a visit to the United States early next month, the foreign secretary said yesterday. Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon told reporters
      AFP  -  250 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Pact signed to make it easier for US to invest in Vietnam
      201 8 WASHINGTON Bloomberg THE US took one more step towards normalising trade relations with a former enemy as the Overseas Private Investment Corp (Opic) signed an agreement with Vietnam to ease US investment in the Asian country. The agreement,
      Bloomberg  -  201 words
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  • REGION
    • Article
      BJP-led govt in favour of economic reforms
      444 9  -  Finance minister says government will make efforts to aid investments From] Rajendra Bajpai in New Delhi INDIA'S newly-elected minority coalition government led by the rightwing Hindu-na-tionalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came out openly in favour of economic reforms, saying the liberalisation process that
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    • Article, Illustration
      Sinha not new to job of Indian finance minister
      374 9 NEW DELHI YASHWANT Sinha, who was named as India's new finance minister on Thursday, is not a professional economist but a former bureaucrat. Mr Sinha, 60, quit the Indian Administrative Service in 1984 and joined the Janata Party. Although he is
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    • Article
      Lock icon Hayami takes over scandal-tainted BOJ
      431 9 TOKYO Reuters BUSINESSMAN and onetime central bank official Masaru Hayami yesterday officially took the helm at the scandal-tarred Bank of Japan (BOJ). Mr Hayami, 72, former head of a powerful business lobby, launched his governorship vowing to recover confidence in a central bank tainted by
      Reuters  -  431 words
    • Article
      Japan to trading partners: Don't tell us what to do
      486 9  -  Rising resentment over US' setting of trading targets From, Anthony Rowley in Tokyo AS United States and European officials stepped up their calls yesterday for Japan to take decisive action to stimulate its economy, a government spokesman in Tokyo warned
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    • Article
      Lock icon US-China nuclear sales pact takes effect
      157 9 WASHINGTON AFP AN agreement allowing US nuclear sales to China took effect on Thursday, ending a longtime ban and paving the way for multi-billion dollar deals to ease China's power shortage. Congress had 30 legislative days to block President Bill Clinton's certification on Jan
      AFP  -  157 words
    • Article
      Broadcasting supplier says Asian sales hit
      365 9  -  SINGAPORE /it/' Toh Han Shih THE currency crisis has hit Asia's broadcasting industry. Vinten Asia Pacific's sales in Asia-Pacific outside Japan will drop this year from 1997, and will shrink by 30 per cent in Asean, its general sales manager, Graham Ramsey, told BT
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  • Page 9 Advertisements
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      Page 9 Advertisements Column 1
      1344 9 ©INTERNATIONAL FACTORS (SINGAPORE) LTD (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) FULL YEAR FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT The Board of Directors of International Factors (Singapore) Ltd wishes to announce the following unaudited results of the Group and of the Company for the year ended 31 December 1997. Group Company SSOOO
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  • THE WORLD
    • Article
      Footsie shoots through 6,000 barrier for the first time
      445 10  -  It jnmps 38 points to new high of 6,036 in early trade before closing at 5,956 From Neil Behrmann in London LONDON'S FTSE 100 index yesterday rocketed through the 6,000 barrier for the first time and jumped 38 points on the
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    • Article
      Lock icon German DAX index hits record high
      286 10 FRANKFURT Reuters GERMANY'S blue-chip DAX index vaulted the key 5,000 point level to a fresh record high yesterday and equity strategists said it would steam ahead, slowing only in the second half of the year. "I see no reason why the European bull market
      Reuters  -  286 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Get Camdessus out of IMF: US Senate leader
      325 10 WASHINGTON Bloomberg US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott called for the removal of Michel Camdessus, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, and said IMF officials must "clean up their act". Mr Lott insisted on Thursday that the US Congress won't
      Bloomberg; FILE PHOTO  -  325 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Belarus economic crisis seen troubling for Russia
      245 10 MOSCOW Reuters BY TAKING the desperate step of cutting all prices, Belarus risks hastening an economic collapse that would have troubling implications for Russia, analysts said yesterday. The former Soviet republic, faced with a currency collapse that has sent prices soaring, this week
      Reuters  -  245 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon Loud and clear message for EU ministers
      54 10 [YORK, England] An anti-Euro protester giving voice to his stance on the single currency proposals in York city centre prior to the ECOFIN European Finance Ministers meeting yesterday. Fourteen European finance ministers are attending the informal meeting and are to discuss the European
      REUTERS  -  54 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Private sector to modernise London tube
      425 10 LONDON AFP THE private sector will be invited for the first time to modernise parts of London's huge and deteriorating underground train system. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said yesterday. Mr Prescott told parliament that private firms would compete for up to three contracts
      AFP  -  425 words
    • Article
      Lock icon Korean peace talks hit serious snag; new round uncertain
      371 10 GENEVA Reuters FOUR-NATION talks in Geneva on a peace treaty to put a formal end to hostilities on the Korean peninsula have run into "serious difficulties", the Chinese chairman of the negotiations said yesterday. Beijing's assistant foreign minister Chen Jian, speaking
      Reuters  -  371 words
  • Page 10 Advertisements
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      Page 10 Advertisements Column 1
      59 10 Refrigerated Wine Cellar Your perfect answer to wine storage in the tropics Model 999 Capacity up to 144 bottles Price: *****0.75 (incl. GST) (inclusive of delivery set up in s'pore) 12 months warranty Available ex-stock from the Sole Agent: bcMable BONTABLE AGENCIES (S) PTE LTD #03-05 Sin Cheong Building 47
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      Page 10 Advertisements Column 2
      6 10 TODAY VLianhe Zaobao BtMttjgppf Ktt#i£»£^ tiMldi
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  • Page 10 Miscellaneous
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  • COMPANIES & MARKETS
    • Article
      OUB to merge with subsidiary International Bank of S'pore
      474 11  -  Move comes after OCBC-Foor Seas news; IBS seen gaining from bigger base By* Conrad Raj [SINGAPORE] Overseas Union Bank is merging with its wholly-owned subsidiary, International Bank of Singapore less than a fortnight after OCBC Bank announced a similar move with
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    • Article
      Acma earnings drop 42% to $23.54m
      379 11  -  By] R Sivanithy [SINGAPORE] Diversified telecommunications and engineering firm Acma Ltd yesterday reported a 42 per cent drop in net profit last year to $23.54 million worse than analysts' expectations of a 33 per cent drop. The group blamed the poorer earnings on its
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    • Article
      UOL net dips 18%, Hotel Plaza falls 41%
      291 11  -  By' Ven Sreenivasan [SINGAPORE] Start-up costs for two Vietnam-based hotels ate into United Overseas Land's bottomline and pulled its 1997 net earnings down 18 per cent to $52.6 million. But turnover for the year ended Dec 31 was up 15 per cent
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    • Article
      CWT net profit falls 6% to $7.8m
      175 11 [SINGAPORE] Start-up costs for a new distripark and new overseas freight offices brought logistics specialist CWT Distribution's net profit down 6 per cent to $7.8 million last year. The earnings fall came about despite a 16 per cent rise in turnover to $132.8
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    • Article
      Watch out for more provisions at DBS Land from Indonesia
      693 11  -  HOCK LOCK SIEW Lee Han Shih DBS Land went through the most difficult year in its 20-year history in 1997. Is the worst over? The stockmarket seems to think so. Helped by this week's lowering of interest rates which was
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    • Article, Illustration
      HK Land in rental talks for One Raffles Link
      566 11  -  2 financial groups may take half of the office space By i Catherine Ong [SINGAPORE] Hongkong Land is negotiating with two financial services groups to take up nearly half of its 340,000 sq ft office space at One Raffles Link at
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    • REGIONAL COMPANIES
      • Article
        Asian crisis, forex losses slash Guoco interim by two-thirds
        530 12  -  Almost all businesses hit by turmoil; interim dividend cut From i Quak Hiang Whai in Hongkong HUGE exchange losses and an absence of exceptional gains slashed the interim profit of Quek Leng Chan's Hongkong-listed Guoco Group by almost two-thirds to HK5362.7
        530 words
      • Article
        Sea View in the red; Hotel Royal net up 17%
        322 12 (SINGAPORE] Sea View Hotel and Hotel Royal yesterday reported results reflecting their contrasting fortunes in soft market conditions. Sea View slipped into the red at half-time with a $2.5 million loss, down from net earnings of $1.7 million previously. But
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      • Article
        Rhone Poulenc unit to pump up to US$500m in Asia
        294 12  -  By\ Frances Lui {SINGAPORE] Rhodia, the chemicals unit of French pharmaceutical giant Rhone Poulenc, plans to invest US$3OO million (Ss4Bl million) to US$5OO million in Asia over the next five years. Yves Boisdron, president of Rhodia Asia-Pacific, said the investment
        294 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon A whole new ball game
        73 12 [TOKYO] Electronic Arts promotion girls showing off their new videogame, "Fifa Road to World Cup during the 98 Tokyo Game Show yesterday in Chiba, a satellite city of Tokyo. Electronic Arts will launch the game on the Japanese market on April 24 while Sega is
        AFP  -  73 words
      • Article
        Lock icon HK banks' body looks at how to help Wharf in Denver case
        414 12 AFX-Asia [HONGKONG] Hongkong Association of Banks chairman Mervyn Davies said the association is looking into ways in which it may be able to help Wharf (Holdings) after a Denver court awarded damages against the company totalling US$l52 million
        AFX-Asia  -  414 words
      • Article
        Clipsal net profit drops 9.5% to $21m
        356 12  -  Imported materials costs affected SE-A profitability Hy Clarissa Tan [SINGAPORE] Clipsal Industries, a subsidiary of Hongkong's Gold Peak group, yesterday reported a 9.5 per cent fall in net profits to $21 million for 1997. The fall came despite a 24.2 per cent rise
        356 words
      • Article
        Int'l Factors falls prey to turmoil
        256 12  -  By I Soh Tiang Keng [SINGAPORE] International Factors (Singapore) joined the long list of victims of the regional turmoil when it reported a 59 per cent plunge in net profit to $2.1 million. The company attributed this downturn to foreign exchange losses, higher interest
        256 words
      • Article
        Dairy Farm eyeing more opportunities in Asia
        381 12  -  Profit from Aussie supermarket chain expected to improve By. Ang Wan May [SINGAPORE] Dairy Farm International Holdings expects further improvement in profits from its Australian supermarket operations this year, and is on the lookout for more investment opportunities in Asia. Roland Floto, group
        381 words
      • Article
        Transpac posts net loss of $35.8m
        352 12  -  By' Teh Hooi Ling (SINGAPORE) The regional financial crisis has wiped out $35.8 million or 22 per cent of Transpac Industrial Holdings' net asset value. In its full-year results, the venture capital company said it had made provisions for its non-listed investments and the
        352 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Bangkok Bank to raise US$3b funds
        470 12 Sale of stock, debt to cushion against rising loan defaults Bloomberg [BANGKOK] Bangkok Bank pic, Thailand's biggest bank, plans to raise up to US$3 billion (Ss4.B billion) of fresh capital, selling new stock and debt to cushion against the impact of rising loan defaults.
        Bloomberg  -  470 words
      • COMPANY Briefs
        • Article
          DBS Land's Viet venture opens
          59 12 [SINGAPORE] DBS Land opened its Stamford Court Ho Chi Minh City service apartment project yesterday. The project was developed by DBS Land's service residence arm Stamford Residences, together with its partners Hacota Manufacture, Vietnam's Import-Export Tourism Co, and Mykyco Construction Co. The project has 165
          59 words
        • Article
          Seksun posts 10% rise in profit
          88 12 [SINGAPORE] Electronics-related Seksun Precision Engineering yesterday posted a 10.1 per cent rise in net profit to $4.7 million. Turnover was up 11 per cent to 163.7 million. Earnings per share came to 6.41 cents, up from 5.83 cents. Net tangible asset was 51.4 cents,
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    • REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES
      • Article
        Lock icon S&P, Fitch cut ratings of major M'sian banks
        401 13 Bernama Bloomberg [KUALA LUMPUR) Standard Poor's has lowered its long-term and short-term counterparty ratings of ArabMalaysian Merchant Bank Bhd (AMMB) because of rapid deterioration in the bank's asset quality. S&P pointed to AMMB's exposure in both the property and share financing sectors
        Bernama; Bloomberg  -  401 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon News Corp shares hit new high on Dodgers buy
        316 13 Reuters, AFX-Asia [SYDNEY] Shares in News Corp Ltd raced to a record high yesterday after Rupert Murdoch's media giant won approval to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, refocusing investor attention on the group. The shares ended at their new
        Reuters,; AFX-Asia  -  316 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Yakult unveils shock loss from derivatives deals
        691 13 Firm takes 106b yen charge for securities trading losses, including derivatives Bloomberg [TOKYO] Yakult Honsha Co, a Japanese maker of fermented milk drinks, said it will take a charge of 105.7 billion yen (Ssl.3 billion) for the year ending March 31 on securities
        Bloomberg; AFP  -  691 words
      • Article
        Lock icon BMW to raise 2.1b marks
        361 13 It's selling new shares, issuing bonus after strong 2nd half Bloomberg [MUNICH] BMW AG said on Thursday it will sell new shares to raise about 2.1 billion marks (Ssl.B billion) and pay a share dividend after second-half profit rose a surprising 67 per cent, amid
        Bloomberg  -  361 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Japan's Daiei to sell finance unit to Ford arm for 80b yen
        342 13 FT [NEW YORK] Daiei, the Japanese supermarket group, is to sell a consumer finance company to Associates First Capital, one of the largest US consumer lending companies. Associates, a majorityowned independent subsidiary of Ford Motor, is to pay
        FT  -  342 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Chase casts wide net for merger partner
        429 13 It's said to have had talks with Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, Goldman, Merrill FT (NEW YORK) Chase Manhattan Bank, America's largest bank, has approached at least four potential merger partners in its effort to build a bulge bracket investment banking business. The Financial
        FT  -  429 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Meiji Life, Dresdner to form asset management venture
        294 13 Bloomberg [TOKYOI Meiji Life Insurance Co, one of Japan's biggest insurers, and Dresdner Bank AG, Germany's secondlargest bank, will form a joint venture in a bid to gain a bigger share of Japan's pension and mutual fund market, a Meiji Life spokesman
        Bloomberg  -  294 words
    • FINANCE & COMMODITIES
      • Article
        Lock icon J Fleming in fund venture in Japan
        278 14 Bloomberg [TOKYO] Jardine Fleming, a global investment company, will tie up with 11 Japanese companies, including Yasuda Mutual Life Insurance Co, to set up a broker focused on selling mutual funds in Japan, a Jardine spokesman said yesterday. The new company called Nippon
        Bloomberg  -  278 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Broad range trading continues
        427 14 USS/mark: The greenback dipped slightly to 1.8112 on Tuesday before it rose to touch 1.8338 by Thursday. Thereafter, it settled to trade around 1.8300 level yesterday morning. No spurt for USS/mark as it remains in the broad range of 1.7500 to 1.8500. Intermediate resistance may be
        Source: DBS Bank  -  427 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Japan banks pay junk bond rates for preferred shares
        358 14 Four sell preferred shares to raise USss.4b before the fiscal year ends Bloomberg [NEW YORK] Japanese banks, which a decade ago were global powerhouses with high credit ratings and little need for outside financing, are raising money in the US at
        Bloomberg  -  358 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Record year for M&As in US insurance industry
        284 14 Last year saw 179 purchases worth over USs44b Bloomberg [NEW YORK] Acquisitions and mergers involving US insurers more than doubled last year to a record US$44.l billion (5570.7 billion), spurred by lower interest rates and the need to augment revenue while slashing
        Bloomberg  -  284 words
      • Article
        Lock icon S'pore unit of DKB to shut down at month's end
        253 14 Bloomberg [HONGKONG] DKB Merchant Bank, a Singapore unit of Japan's fifth largest bank, is shutting its entire operation at the end of the month, an official said. Toshiaki Toyama, executive director of DKB Asia, a Hongkong unit of Japan's Dai-Ichi
        Bloomberg  -  253 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Euroyen weaker as stocks surge
        209 14 stimuli Report Reuters (SINGAPORE) Simex Euroyen futures slid yesterday as Tokyo stocks rose despite news a major Japanese health food maker, Yakult Honshe Co Ltd, had incurred substantial losses on derivatives deals. Growing speculation the Japanese government would try to talk up the Nikkei share
        Reuters  -  209 words
      • Article
        Futures surge along with stocks
        163 14  -  MSG! TAIWAN FUTURES Cecilia Loh service dealer, Refco Singapore Pte Ltd [SINGAPORE] The Simex MSCI Taiwan Stock Index futures contract surged 3.80 points as its underlying cash index rallied for the first time in four days, up 44.82 points. Taiwan retail orders led the recovery
        163 words
      • Article
        Lock icon Oil prices steady, focus on Venezuela
        274 14 ENERGY REPORT Reuters [LONDON] World oil prices held steady yesterday as mystery deepened as to whether Venezuela had made any progress on a plan for Opec and non-Opec producers to cut crude output. Speculation has been heightened by confusion over visits to Europe this
        Reuters  -  274 words
      • Article
        Lock icon CURRENCY REPORT
        252 14 AFP. Reuters London THE dollar slipped against the yen yesterday here in reaction to rumours of intervention by the Bank of Japan, but it gained against the mark a day after some disappointing German statistics, operators said in early afternoon. The dollar was trading then at 129.99 yen
        AFP.; Reuters  -  252 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Untitled
        1229 14 MTERBAIfK CROSS RATES Mar20 AS C$ Iwfc ECU Ffr DwHItfliXKs »—lah Yen Woo BM HZ$ P* *S Hw SS tmi Sfr »T$ tit Pim* US$ Australia 0.939 6.171 0.611 4167 1213 5.133 26.184 ***** 0.861 9.513 2.415 1180 29.227 25.062 1063 3201 0.990 217* 26.136 0298 0.663 Canada 1.064 5.854
        1,229 words
    • Article
      COMMODITY PRICES
      1801 15 SICOM FUTURES Mar 20 RUBBER (hrturts dosiaq m it 5 J0*a) RSSICONTIACT(ScMtsAg) Ctoj« Volume Open Month High low S#tt (tonnes) Interest Apr 98 112.25 150 575 May 96 115.00 2225 Jun 98 H8.25 3475 Jul/Sep 98 124.50 150 4245 Oct/Dec 98 130.75 130.75 130.50 75 5625 Jan/Mar 99
      1,801 words
    • Article
      WORLD STOCK MARKETS
      2328 15 LONDON l-J A—1 -IIMHSIfiWS Mar 20 P»nc« 31 Group 584.400 -13.600 AB Ports 385.000 6.000 Abbey National 1172.000 -31.000 Allied Domecq 585.000 25.000 Aiw 154.000 -2.000 Asda Group 209.000 3.400 8AT Ind 634.400 -0.600 BG Pic 302.000 2.000 BICC 152.000 *4.000 BOC Group 1008.000 -22.000 BR Petroleum
      2,328 words
    • Article
      Lock icon TOKYO
      1648 15 AFP Q Nikkei 225 +15L45 JAPANESE share prices closed 0.9 per cent higher yesterday on the back of the yen's moderate gains against the dollar following intervention by the Bank of Japan, brokers said. The key Nikkei Stock Average of 225 leading issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained
      AFP  -  1,648 words
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      Lock icon HONGKONG
      1557 16 Reuters IHI Hang Seng +119.19 STOCKS erased some of their early gains but ended the week on a firm note as investors hoped Hongkong banks would cut interest rates later yesterday, brokers said. Market confidence was further boosted by comments by China's new Premier, Zhu Rongji, on Thursday that
      Reuters  -  1,557 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon CHINA
      643 16 Reuters Shenzhen B Index +0.41 CHINA'S hard currency B shares closed higher yesterday after remarks by Premier Zhu Rongji helped push up local property issues and Hongkong stocks, brokers said. Mr Zhu told a news conference in Beijing on Thursday that China would defend the Hongkong dollar's peg to
      Reuters; Source: Credit Lyonnsis Securities(Asia) Ltd  -  643 words
    • Article
      Lock icon TAIPEI
      378 16 AFP Hyp Index +44.82 TAIWANESE stocks staged a technical rebound yesterday, rising 0.5 per cent following three consecutive days of losses, brokers said. Institutional investors bought technology and textile blue-chips, which posted the largest gains, said Samson Chueh of President Securities Corporation. The Weighted Price Index moved up 44.82
      AFP  -  378 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon JAKARTA
      723 16 AFP f% Composite Index ♦1258 INDONESIAN shares climbed 2.5 per cent yesterday on optimism that a second disbursement of an IMF-led financial bailout package would be paid next week, dealers said. "Investors are pretty positive that next week, the IMF funds will be disbursed," a dealer with a local
      AFP  -  723 words
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon BANGKOK
      811 16 AFP □set Index -3.80 THAI stocks ended 0.8 per cent lower yesterday on concerns over bank capital increases and as a lacklustre censure debate dragged into a third day, dealers said. "Investors are still worried over the recapitalisation in the banking sector as well as over the extension of
      AFP  -  811 words
    • Article
      Lock icon MANILA
      316 16 AFP CI Manila -14-25 PHILIPPINE share prices closed 0.6 per cent lower yesterday amid a market correction following four days of gains, analysts said. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index shed 14.25 points to 2,274.14. Volume rose to 2.77 billion shares worth 1.54 billion pesos. Philippine National Bank dropped one
      AFP  -  316 words
    • Article
      Lock icon SEOUL
      423 16 AFP U| Compositelndex jHL22 SHARE prices closed 0.8 per cent up in thin trade on the Korea Stock Exchange yesterday with foreign investors stepping back from the market, dealers said. The Composite Index closed up 4.22 points at 525.95, off a high of 530.40. Foreign investors seem to be
      AFP  -  423 words
    • Article
      Lock icon SYDNEY
      587 16 AFP fl All Ordinaries *16 SHARES closed a barely perceptible 0.1 per cent up yesterday as a stronger industrial sector compensated for weaker resource stocks, brokers said here. The All Ordinaries index rose 2.6 points to 2,775.2. The All Resources Index fell 2.8 points to 1,160.2 while the All
      AFP  -  587 words
    • Article
      Lock icon WELLINGTON
      256 16 AFP fl Wellington +5J93 STOCKS rose 0.3 per cent yesterday to end at its highest level since mid-December. The benchmark NZSE-40 Share Index rose 5.93 points to 2,350.02. Trading was worth a heavy NZ5144.9 million. Brokers said the small rise came despite the currency dipping to a four-year low.
      AFP  -  256 words
    • KUALA LUMPUR STOCK MARKET
      • Article
        Untitled
        8900 17 MMSTKIALS ConsHHWf products IfM Last Vol Day Net Cap H*g» Lew Company S« 000 HlqK Low ,m 3)0 180 Ajinomoto 280 15-5 "J"? 148 73 Angkasa 125 6 22 125 118 2.9 184.3 290 123 Apollo Food Hlg 207 5 3 207 205 6.0 82.8 388 190 BerjayaLand 372 unch
        8,900 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Shares flat amid light profit-taking
        413 17 AFP, Reuters n Composite Index +0.20 MALAYSIAN share prices closed barely higher yesterday after light profit-taking on recent gains. Investors focused their sights on the central bank's annual report due next week along with an expected revision of growth targets and government stimulus measures, dealers
        AFP,; Reuters  -  413 words
    • WARRANTS & OPTIONS
      • Article
        Untitled
        3683 18 BONOS, LOANS WARRANTS m 1997/96 Last Vat Day L»»t Quota Ayg High Law Stna Company Sata *or- COOO> High Law Buy" SaHar Prlca 68 9 m 3000 mAMDB CS.5%*****6 17 14.5 18 81 8 3160 »Acar ******1USS 15 uneh 10 15 15 14 15 131 8.5 3164 Acma ******4 24
        3,683 words
      • Article
        Tat Lee Bank wrt: time on its side
        183 18  -  WARRANT WATCH By\ R Sivanithy PROPERTY and bank stocks have been at the centre of attraction recently. In particular, the Tat Lee Bank 2002 warrant has caught our attention with its pretty decent set of numbers which could prove pleasing to most
        183 words
    • Article
      CLOB INTERNATIONAL
      2348 18 Transaction date Mar 20 MALAYSIA* STOCKS Or Or 1997/96 Latt Vol Day Laxt Ouot* Otv Wv VW Ml M Cap High Law Stno Company s«t« COOP) High Low Buyar S«4ar C'VT P/t tffHI 478 28 m 5000 AISB SOc 102 1352 TO 100 TOO 102 iO 33 11
      2,348 words
    • Article
      STOCK EXCHANGE OF SINGAPORE: MAIN BOARD
      6276 19 Transaction date Mar 20 I or Of mm 1997/9* Laat V* Opy Oy<« "J* C JJJ J wm> Law StHa Clipany I* rOOO) MH> L— fc»V*r «•—f *rt 9m* MMtVlMU 157 18.5 1020 ACE Dynamic s60c_.. 36 unch 46 36 34 34 36 29.5
      6,276 words
    • Article
      SESDAQ
      1145 19 6r Or mm 1997/90 LMt Vol Ouy Last Ouot* W* Otv Ytd Not Cap Awg l— mm ciw>»t 6ia coooi hm» t— or* »—c cw w t— puct 186 76 0 2000 ABU Wdg» 5c 106-2 36 112 107 107 !10 3.0 6.0 0.1 1S4.3 46.0 104 446 76
      1,145 words
    • STOCK EXCHANGE OF SINGAPORE
      • Article
        Untitled
        229 20 anfa tw— •Renong Bhd 50c 29,086,000 *M Resources 18,468,000 *MBf Capital 17,889,000 *MBF Land Bhd 17,540,000 •Rekapacifk Bh 16,756,000 •Pub Bk Foreign 12,933,000 DBS Land 12,336,000 Wing Tai 25c 10,157,000 Keppel Land 50c 9,658,000 STIC 25c 8,204,000 Stodu DBS Land 35,460,111 OCBC Foreign 32,619,509 SIA Foreign 29,722,573 Keppel Land50c 23,279,327
        229 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Property stocks pull back as investors take profits
        715 20  -  the wees ahead Selling pressure, however, is well-absorbed, indicating market-wide correction may be short-lived By R Sivanithy [SINGAPORE] A sharp pullback in property stocks yesterday put the brakes on the market's attempt to climb to a second successive 1998 high, while advances
        715 words
      • Article, Illustration
        HOT STOCK
        48 20  -  by Shiv Taneja STIC closed six cents lower yesterday at $1.92 on a volume of 8.2 million shares, compared with its 10-day traded average of 2.41 million shares. There is more downside for this counter, according to the daily RSI and Stochastics charts. by ShHr Tanaia.
        48 words
      • ON THE GRAPEVINE
        • Article
          Community property?
          133 20 A MEMBER of the Tanglin Community Club at the Tanglin Community Centre in Whitley Road was flabbergasted when she was recently told that no cars were allowed to use the front porch. When she pointed out that it was raining heavily and that her car would only be
          133 words
        • Article
          Where there is smoke, there is money
          120 20 ONE of the highest paid executives in America is the chairman of Philip Morris, Geoffrey Bible. According to Bloomberg, the man running the world's biggest cigarette company received US$l.37 million (552.20 million) in salary, a bonus of US$l.9 million, US$6 million in long-term
          120 words
        • Article
          Changing fortunes
          119 20 POOR Japanese banks. In the mid-806 they were the heavyweights of the financial circle, the "300-lb gorillas who sit where they want to sit". Now they are reduced by bad debts and poor economy in Japan to a credit status not much higher, according to Bloomberg, than Donald
          119 words
        • Article
          Bagging the best
          99 20 THE inimitable Elizabeth Sam, deputy president of OCBC and Woman of the Year for 1997, certainly bags top prizes for her fidelity to fashion. At the press briefing where she was announced Woman of the Year by Her World magazine recently, a reporter asked the well-known banker
          99 words
        • Article
          Men behind the budget cuts
          153 20 BUDGET estimates for government ministries were well and truely trashed out by Members of Parliament during this year's debate on budget estimates, according to Wong Kan Seng, Leader of the House. Mr Wong, who Is also Minister of Home Affairs, told Parliament yesterday that this
          153 words
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      Page 11 Advertisements Column 1
      133 11 TheßusinessTimes lIVCAPOtI PREMIERES K f&l H Watch this space as your prize unravels. The Business Times, your business daily, now brings you the latest from Bvlgari Parfums. Get to know The Business Times and win Bvlgari Parfums products. All entries would be eligible for the grand draw in April and
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      77 13 and we'll help you enhance your company profile Corporate celebrations are opportunities to have a total communication approach in enhancing your company profile to your business associates and customers. It may be a grand opening, launching ceremony, company anniversary, ISO certification, ground-breaking ceremony or a topping-out ceremony. It's another chance
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      34 18 Bosses, we want to hear from you. Do you have a model secretary? Tell Simone (Tel: 740-1265) about her and she may be featured in the Secretarial Administrative Careers supplement in The Straits Times
      34 words
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      31 19 ADREAMBOSS Secretaries, what do you want in a dream boss? Call Simone at 740-1265 and we may feature him in the Secretarial Administrative Careers supplements in The Straits Times t s
      31 words
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      Page 20 Advertisements Column 1
      407 20 BUSINESS Notices TAKASHIMAYA SINGAPORE LTD (Incorporated with limited liability in Singapore) 5520,000,000 5 Per Cent. Guaranteed Bonds Due 1998 Unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by TAKASHIMAYA COMPANY LIMITED (Incorporated with limited liability in Japan) Pursuant to the Terms and Conditions endorsed on the Bond, Notice is hereby given 1. Condition 5
      407 words
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      Page 20 Advertisements Column 2
      209 20 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, CAP. 50 AND IN THE MATTER OF FAITH FOODS PTE LTD (IN MEMBERS' VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 308(1) of the Companies Act. Cap. 50 that the Final Meeting of Members of the Company will
      209 words
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      Page 20 Advertisements Column 3
      109 20 To advertise call toll-free 1800-741 1883 TRAMER AK TRANSPORT PTE LTD (In \MInUI7 Liquidation) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN thai the Final Meeting of the aembers of the above-mentioned company will be held at No 6 Jalan Ampas #05-01 Singapt-re *****7 on 25 Apnl 1948 al 11 JO a m for
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      Page 20 Advertisements Column 4
      20 20 Locate its owner through Classification 821 (Found). Simply call C.A.T.S. at 1800-737-1166 for this free service. t Another Classified Service
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      Page 20 Advertisements Column 5
      101 20 In business, being at the right place at the right time with the right crowd is critical. Our Special Features can help you get there. The right place, because the editoral focus complements your advertisement. The right time, because our special features are specially planned to coincide with specific events,
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  • EXECUTIVE Lifestyle
    • Article, Illustration
      Lock icon The great designer turnabout
      1406 21  -  Cash-rich Asia was a goldmine for the world's top fashion designers until the markets took a tumble. Where will Vuitton, Versace et al now be redirecting their efforts? jaime eb reports on the shift back to Europe and North America JAIME EE WHEN Hongkong tai-tais start
      FILE PHOTO  -  1,406 words
    • STRAWS In The Wind
      • Article
        Room to breathe
        62 21 THE policy announcement yesterday about cutting down the workload for schoolchildren must have been music to everyone's ears. It should allow children and anxious parents room for a little more fun in life. Especially for one parent in particular, who, when he brought his 14-year-old-son to the
        62 words
      • Article
        Only for the brave
        33 21 A READER told BT that while he was going past the Crocodile Farm along the ECP, the following sign caught his eye: Clearance sale. Anyone for a friendly pet?
        33 words
      • Article
        Hot topic
        61 21 THE Ministry of Community Development might be pleased to know that its recent workshop sexual intimacy for newly-weds created a flurry of interest. One interested person wanted to know if there would be a practical session, another wondered if ISO 9000 certificates would be issued to outstanding participants,
        61 words
      • Article
        Sweet temptations
        49 21 THE Hongkong government, like Singapore's, obviously thinks that its citizens need to be protected from some of the more free-wheeling forums on the Internet. Included among the list of thousand-plus banned sites was the Hershey's website for its Smarties chocolates www.smarties.com. It was deemed "unfit for children".
        49 words
    • PROFILE
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Bill Gates up close
        1376 22  -  Thousands of Singaporeans flocked to see and hear him at the Suntec Convention Hall last Thursday. Was it just the attraction of incredible wealth, or does Microsoft's Bill Gates touch a common chord? ebnnbth jambs finds out KENNETH JAMES AWAY from the crowds, Microsoft chairman and
        CHRIS LOH  -  1,376 words
      • Article
        Creating the right stuff
        472 22 BILL Gates says Singapore ONE, the nationwide multimedia network, will give the Republic a headstart in the digital revolution. So are the pieces in place to create a Singapore Bill Gates? The entrepreneur extraordinaire reacts cautiously, noting that everything's different now. "I started Microsoft with Paul
        472 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Using a picture to make a sale
        776 22  -  SEMINAR For Robert Blocker, the link between the arts and business is, and has always been, inextricable By, Jennifer Lien TWO illiterate old ladies at a fast-food restaurant gaze at a fast-food poster with pictures of two special set meals. They stop a
        SIEW YAW HOONG  -  776 words
    • PURSUITS
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Cream of the crop
        441 23  -  jaime EE finds some smart additions for her home JAIME EE CREAM is the answer to the frequent traveller whose greatest lament is: How do I bring that fab lamp/sofa/mirror from Europe back home without worrying about shipping costs and insurance? A sleek new home accessories
        PHOTOS BY CHRIS LOH  -  441 words
      • Article, Illustration
        The day the tigers came
        557 23  -  GARDENING Two hobbyist gardeners learn an important lesson from a rare orchid By 1 Thien SEEING "tigers" in our garden in the Tiger year which gardener can ask for a more auspicious start to the new Lunar year than this! This is especially so when
        557 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Working out his artistic impulses
        911 23  -  PROFILE Brother Joseph McN&lly remembers not being an early convert to sculpture By\ Susan Tsang BROTHER Joseph McNally has much to be satisfied with as he walks about the grounds of the LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts, which he set up in 1983 with no
        CHRIS LOH  -  911 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Southern rambler
        593 24  -  Many will find it hard to stay awake at Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil CINEMA By i Susan Tsang THIS is a movie that promises much. Just look at the creative talent behind it. There is a quirky book by John Berendt, based on a
        593 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Bumpy road to redemption
        763 24  -  CINEMA As Good As It Gets tends to get a little crowded with three rather than two leads going on a long car trip. It helps, though, that all three torn in such winning performances By I Susan Tsang AS GOOD As It Gets does not
        763 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Naked men, a Bible, and a meaty kiss
        775 25  -  OSCAR WATCH For those bored to tears watching Titanic, the scene in which the treasure hunters weep is truly an award-winning moment By- Russell Baker NYT I HAVE just made the annual late-winter movie rounds. Here are my five nominations for Academy
        NYT  -  775 words
      • Article, Illustration
        WHAT'S ON
        421 25  -  Compiled by M Yasotha MUSIC o Chamber Circle And Friends Horn players Han Chanfe Chou and Dixie De Souza from the SSO and pianist Benjamin Loh join the SSO's Chamber Circle, comprising violinists Chan Tze Law and Chin Chee Mee, violist Marietta Ku and cellist Lee Chin Sin,
        421 words
    • EPICURE
      • Article, Illustration
        More than a marriage of convenience
        1054 26  -  jaimb be discovers some winning combinations at the Tung Lok group's New Asia Gourmet Kitchen JAIME EE IT'S A BIT of a cheap thrill to dine at a country club without being a member. There are no exorbitant fees to pay, no well-meaning host
        1,054 words
      • Article
        How to build a good cellar for the tropics
        706 26  -  WINE CONNOISSEUR Some practical considerations on economical storage Byl N K Yong BUILDING a temperaturecontrolled cellar in the tropics is not difficult but it is a major undertaking. The alternative solution of the pur-pose-built wine cooler makes a satisfactory compromise if
        706 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon Thai food haven at the Heeren
        624 26  -  RESTAURANT Expect to be satisfied rather than surprised at Lemongrass. Which is another way of saying you'll be back for more By, Jaime Ee THESE days, the only thing innovative about Thai food is the way fusion chefs are using the techniques and ingredients
        CHRIS LOH  -  624 words
    • Article, Illustration
      CINEMA
      755 27 A Life Leu Ordinary Ewan McGregor stars as a janitor who kidnaps his ex-boss's daughter (Cameron Diaz). Previewing at Lido, Century, Yishun, Bishan, Tiong Bahru, Boon Lay, Tampines, GV Marina, Orchard, Bugis, East point, Central, Empress, Jubilee, Toa Payoh. Am Good As It Geta Jack Nicholson bonds with a
      755 words
    • Article
      ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS
      116 27 OathayOm Cathay 3:iB-:i400 Eastshore 316-18 IK Orchard 236-8386 Picturehouse 338-3100 Yangtze 223-7629 mrngWmh Empress 777-5867 Jubilee 164-1640 Mandarin 292-9401 Marina 338-9719 Whitesands 685-1782 Bedok Bishan 36:1-8886 Boon Lay 792-2788 Broadway 454-9391 Majestic 533-90:12 Marina 337-9488 Pavilion 786-5788 Tam pines 8 786-5788 Tiong Bahru 274-6688 Yishun 257-7848 Clements
      116 words
    • TRAVEL
      • Article, Illustration
        Lock icon A sacred peak and a forest of sculptures
        1320 28  -  Mount Fuji flirts with travellers, hiding behind lesser mountains before revealing itself in its full glory. Less elusive are the bronze, marble and steel sculptures at the Hakone Open-Air Museum where ben momrob catches sight of the Hand of God BEN MUNROE
        PHOTOS BY BEN MUNROE  -  1,320 words
      • Article, Illustration
        Folded patterns on intangibly important paper
        751 28  -  Holding centrestage at an exhibition of traditional crafts was Knbota Akira, whose family produces the revered Seikishuwashi By Ben Munroe WITH a customary Japanese sense of propriety, participants at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in Tokyo were put firmly in their place. There were
        751 words
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      6 21 Profile Bill ■JH Gates EL 2
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      Page 21 Advertisements Column 2
      224 21 Travel Japan's sacred peak EL 8 "uur aaugnter was reuniTea witn ner aog on the very day the ad appeared!" Mrs Christine Low... "Business picked up after we advertised in Classified. It really works!"! Trevor Koh... "It's no secret that The Straits! Times Classified is the key to our success."
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      100 24 Showing at Shaw, Cathay, Golden Village and United Artists cinemas. Rated R(A). {Best (Bites, (Bright flights at (SSOTgSg Cajun Cuisine Give yourself a real treat win two return tickets to Exotic Bali (3 days/2 nights) Dine upstairs in our wonderful mansion any night of the week and qualify for a
      100 words
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      Page 24 Advertisements Column 2
      53 24 I X-f onjy my boss would J respond -to these ads... £> o J WIUK'UA,, -^ij ANY JOD. ANY CAREER. AVAILABLE ANY DAY. ANY TIME. ANYWHERE. The Straits times the Sunday times business times THE NEW PAPER LIANHE ZAOBAO LIANHE WANBAO Shin min daily news berita harian berita minggu 9
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      Page 24 Advertisements Column 3
      66 24 Can't Keep your house In order? If you are having problems with clogged pipes, over-grown gardens, pest infestations, poor TV reception, worn-out fittings and furnishings Get a quick fix. Seek help from the Classified. Home Needs Classifications 90 to 120 CATS. Make The Straits Times Classified your first pit stop
      66 words
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      146 25 Where to wine, dine and entertain... "t for Gold. Now vou can wear it on the inside CAFE VE QK&Hp LtVEL 1 Daily A La-Carte menu. f- —Western and local t IW J favourites chef s m I jn speciality top selling til m m «/Sr Hainanese Chicken Rice, Nasi
      146 words
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      Page 25 Advertisements Column 2
      187 25 *A Now it ♦%> J 4 THE HEEREN in Orchard jIL. \»J jQuiAen/ic ZJ/iai Cuisine lil Exclusive to 1 ij/ The Business Times readers. Just present this ad to enjoy 15* discount. At THE HEEREN outlet only. El Offer valid till 31 March *96. gKKT^. For reservations, call 736-1998 >
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      Page 25 Advertisements Column 3
      119 25 new me-m PAOLO I J I PING'S I PASSIONATELY ITALIAN TASTEFULLY CHINESE j We've Stretched Our Serving Hours for "TUN C H Cafe Plaza "lunch" is the best for lunch and high tea rolled into one. Which means longer serving hours and even more scrumptious spreads. Saturday. Sunday Public HolkUv
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      Page 25 Advertisements Column 4
      152 25 3-in-1 v*® Promotion* -15% discount off food items ASf and set menu lucky draw coupon with every $50 spent Free car waxing with $200 or .jl more spent in a single receipt •~v \.WU WESSEMISBSBS3MM Terms and conditions apply. 1 1 «fX Clementi Garden Seafood Restaurant rlCwL*} 93A, Clemcno Road,
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      Page 25 Advertisements Column 5
      114 25 jS Mandarin Singapore Riesling Grand Cm KirMtiy zAlsace We bring you the wine cuisine of Alsace. 27 March 8 April Bon Appetit! Please call 831 6258/9 .V«?.Vr« for reservations. maho* Sponsor*: oeiWBVBW >r>rri MnuMa LfLYOhD'OP KLIPFEL KItAUIANI Www, J tmr JK'W liMlta A*eo» (Frura# > ?T 333 Orchard Road. Singapore
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  • Page 27 Miscellaneous
    • Miscellaneous
      Page 27 Miscellaneous Column 1
      709 27 RECOMMBIPBP TOWnro Wh wh nt fugitives from the law but xV Y\ discover a freedom they til 6 (JSCBTS never knew in this 1991 Ridley Scott movie. Academy Awards Harvey Keitel supports, Preview, 8.30pm, Ch 5 Brad Pitt makes a splash A run-through of all the as a sexy robber,
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    • Miscellaneous
      Page 27 Miscellaneous Column 2
      1420 27 TODAY'S TV JL JJJ 12.00 NN TV Innovations. I HNMHHMHMHMNH LOO PM Soccer The FA Col- 1 Apt! _j. ..w 840 AM TV Innovations. E pa«7»nn I 240 PM David, the Gnome. I IT Ketchup Vampires. S SCCnter Int6rna fw]HR L ItHH Matemajik 3.00 Wild South: The Black frTl At
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