The Business Times, 17 March 2006

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Total Pages: 30
1 30 The Business Times
  • 17 1 THE BUSINESS TIMES Friday, March 17,2006 online at http://business-times.asia 1 .com.sq MICA (P) 099/03/2006 SINGAPORE 85 cents
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  • 840 1  -  Lippo said to be front runner, may use S'pore vehicle Auric Pacific in deal By KALPANA RASHIWALA [SINGAPORE] A new major shareholder is expected to emerge soon at Robinson, as OCBC nears a deal to sell its stake of up to 36 per
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  • 773 1  -  Thai-born businessman to pay US$70m for majority stake in a key vehicle in Shin deal By SIOW LI SEN in Singapore, S JAYASANKARAN in Kuala Lumpur THAI-BORN Malaysian businessman Surin Upatkoon will take a 68 per cent stake in one of
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  • Page 1 Advertisements
    • 45 1 |j* CAO COURT CASE Prosecution, defence paint conflicting pictures H-: > gj- m r If b IIiI 5 JL v K- K, I I M K I flk S H B; Hl H HIP HOTELS Innovative boutique hoteliers who dare to be different PGS 26 27
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    • 23 1 COMMENTARY Short-selling with a difference* PG4 111! 8 *****1 *****4 Markets Digest Pg 2 S'pore markets: Focus still on China plays PG 6
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    • 20 1 EXEC LIFESTYLE £3^ French food is here to stay "bpr OFF THE CUFF How to survive en-bloc fever PG26 —Jfi
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  • TOP STORIES
    • 573 2  -  CAO COURT CASE Defence: He's not solely to blame. Prosecution: He wanted to be a super CEO By MICHELLE QUAH [SINGAPORE] A marathon court session dragged out by lengthy but spirited arguments ensued when the hearing of former China Aviation Oil (CAO) chief
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    • 134 2 ST! 1496.93(40.91) ST INDEX FUTURES 2,502.00 (+2.00) siMsa 295.92 (-0.44) SIMSa FUTURES 295.60 (-1.00) MARKETS Thursday Change KLSECOMP 923,15 -1.09 NIKKEI 225 16.096.21 -222.83 HANG SENG 15,729.04 +8.68 SET INDEX 739.96 -1.25 JAKARTA COMP 1,273,80 +29.36 MANflACOMP 2.141.77 +13.86 SEOUL COMP 1.335.98 +2.00 SHENZHEN B 248.50 -0.19 MUMBAIINO
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    • 603 2 Mediator may be needed to end turmoil: army chief By OUR CORRESPONDENT in Bangkok THAILAND'S beleaguered prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, yesterday remained defiant notwithstanding pleas from some of the most respected people in the country for warring factions to sort things out
      BLOOMBERG  -  603 words
    • 548 2 Global commercial property investments hit USs47sb GLOBAL direct real estate investments reached US$475 billion in 2005 with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for U5567.5 billion or aboutl4 per cent, according to Jones Lang LaSalle International Capital Group. It said in a report that North America remains the top investment
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    • 347 3  -  Asia-Pac accounts for 14% of total; US assets remain top draw: JLL By ARTHUR SIM [SINGAPORE] Global direct real estate investments reached US$475 billion in 2005 with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for U5567.5 billion or about 14 per cent, according to Jones Lang LaSalle International
      Source: Jones Lang LaSalle; Property Data (UK); (KT) Finland;Capital Analytics (USA)  -  347 words
    • 484 3  -  By ROLAND LIM [SINGAPORE] Electronic payments company Verifone is to manage its global supply from its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, the company announced yesterday. Verifone is also setting up a research and development (R&D) centre here. The NYSE-listed
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    • 580 3  -  It takes UOB's lead and DBS is getting ready to do likewise, but OCBC is staying put for now By SIOW LI SEN [SINGAPORE] Citibank Singapore will soon send customers chip-based credit cards to replace their magnetic stripe ones only the second bank here
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  • Page 2 Advertisements
    • 144 2 GLORY SHIP I MANAGEMENT PTE LTD I We invite suitably qualified Bj Master Mariners or Chief Officers I H to apply for the following posHion(s): I Operations I ISuperintendent(s) I Hanker Fleet) Working experience in Tanker operations, supervision of loading/discharging, safety Knowledge of Charter Parties, laytime H calculations and ability
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    • 62 2 people Clients wanted. (Only excellent companies need apply) BT ONUNE BT print subscribers get free access to the Business Times Online. To activate your account log on to http:// business-times.asial .com.sg For more information, e-mail btocs@sph.com.sg or call 6388-3838. Want the best deal? < Invite tenders. Call 1800 289 8822
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  • Page 3 Advertisements
    • 245 3 "i .x > v. c-" s c 'v !j -I 5 rVV >*r ,v-*A anffilfTi' .1.7 4 > W 4 Mark BestfHwn Sydney's Award-winning Marque Restaurant V"' jSaMBwiM Jjfc 25Mw§ flr'' I Enjoy that top of the world' experience when the Tower Club hosts I' IIHI 'fl |Rp B M
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  • Page 4 Advertisements
  • COMPANY NEWS
    • 593 4 DBS FORAY INTO SOUTH KOREA DBS may overpay as price is key, they reckon Reuters DBS Group Holdings is the dark horse in the bid for Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), and it may be tempted to overpay to win a
      Reuters; REUTERS  -  593 words
    • 332 4 The union believes the DBS bid isn't speculative and the lender is a sound financial investor. Bloomberg [SEOUL] DBS Group Holdings Ltd's bid for a US$6 billion controlling stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) has won support from the Korean lender's labour
      Bloomberg  -  332 words
    • 165 4 THE vice-chairman of Lone Star Funds has arrived in Seoul to discuss the planned sale of its 50.'5 per cent stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), said a spokeswoman at Lone Star's Korean unit yesterday. According to Dow Jones, industry watchers
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    • 373 4  -  By LESLIE YEE IN A move to dispel a misconception about its top executives' compensation, DBS Group Holdings said yesterday that its chief executive officer Jackson Tai and chief operating officer Frank Wong received lower total compensation recently in line with the bank's
      373 words
    • 665 4  -  HOCK LOCK SIEW By R SIVANITHY WHEN it comes to short-selling in the local stock market, all scrip-borrowing and lending outfits here charge a financing fee. As such, local traders and investors have grown to accept without question that you have to pay for the privilege
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    • 372 5  -  Two said to have left and four others said to have sent in letters By NANDE KHIN ALLEGED disagreement with the management's new direction has led to several analysts leaving Hong Kong-based BNP Paribas Peregrine's Singapore office. BT understands that two analysts have
      372 words
    • 724 5 Reuters SINGAPORE printed circuit board maker MFS Technology Ltd yesterday said earnings growth could fall short of analysts' expectations as it was dependent on volatile consumer demand for cellphones. MFS shares fell as much as 13 per cent on the company's comments,
      Reuters; FILE PHOTO  -  724 words
    • 207 5 Bloomberg GLOBAL Crossing Ltd, whose fibre-optic network is used by the US Air Force and Delta Air Lines Inc, said its fourth-quarter loss widened to US$BO million as sales of its traditional phone service fell. The net loss compared with a loss of
      Bloomberg  -  207 words
    • 242 5 UNITED Overseas Bank (UOB) said yesterday that it is seeking to delist its 98.5 per cent owned Thai banking subsidiary, United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company (UOBT). The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) requires that a listed company must maintain no less than
      242 words
    • 118 5 BIOSENSORS International Group, a maker of heart stents, yesterday announced that its substantial shareholder, BSL Corporation, has bought more shares in the company. On Tuesday, BSL purchased a 2.06 per cent stake, or 18.48 million shares, in an off-market transaction. BSL paid $1.10 per
      118 words
    • 346 5 SINGAPORE Telecommunications Ltd's Australian unit Optus will cut 450 jobs, affecting 200 staff, as part of a wider cost-cutting exercise. Optus chief executive officer Paul O'Sullivan announced the across-the-board cuts in an e-mail to staff yesterday at Australian's second largest
      FILE PHOTO  -  346 words
    • 452 7 Jump propelled by innovative lending programmes Bernama [KUALA LUMPUR] OCBC Bank (M) Bhd's Islamic banking unit registered a 61 per cent growth in last year's financing with its "customer-centric" lending programmes for both individuals as well as corporates. The bank's director and chief executive
      Bernama; FILE PHOTO  -  452 words
    • COMPANY BRIEFS
      • 60 7 FRUIT and vegetable wholesaler FHTK Holdings, which owes 11 separate trade creditors in China $2.8 million in aggregate, is attempting to settle the debts out of court. This, after it faced separate legal action from creditors. Individually, the debts range from $85,000 to $668,000. The company
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      • 94 7 PRECISION engineering plastic components manufacturer Avaplas yesterday announced the proposed sale of its factory at 19 Changi South Street 1 to Mapletree Investments for 10 million. Under the put and call option agreement, Avaplas has a 10-year lease agreement with Mapletree, with option to renew
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      • 74 7 DESPITE a 28.1 per cent rise in revenue for the first half of its financial year ended Dec 31,2005, to A 5125.2 million (*****.4 million), assembly equipment solutions provider Autron Corporation reported a 45.4 per cent drop in net profit to A
        74 words
      • 80 7 K-REIT Asia, an office real estate investment trust sponsored by Keppel Land, has obtained a conditional eligibility to list up to 240.5 million units from the Singapore Exchange. It has also given its in-principle clearance of the circular for KepLand's shareholders. At the
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    • 391 7  -  It would help identify and evaluate options By ROLAND LIM REGIONAL Internet service provider Pacific Internet (PacNet), which has been the object of an intended US$lO5 million takeover offer by Internet telephony firm Mediaßing, yesterday announced that it has appointed BNP Paribas Peregrine (Singapore) as
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  • Page 5 Advertisements
    • 23 5 Joining forces? Call 1800 289 8822 or email notiees@sph.com.sg to book your corporate notice in our newspapers now. W AT-3 f NOTICES g.
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    • 370 5 PAFFIFS FORUM lAIS AlVftJ V iir w/ Iv JyViiff V i Cl Vir IIA IWll Join Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew former chairman of the US Commentator Martin Wolf, Noble Laureate Michael Spence and other luminaries as they lead discussions at 14-15 September 2006 Raffles City Convention Center On
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  • SINGAPORE MARKETS
    • 513 6  -  STOCKS China Milk replaces China Fishery as big gainer as ST Index treads water R SIVANITHY Senior Correspondent A SHORT while ago, it was China Fishery which led the second line with its mind-boggling gains. This week, China Fishery's leadership has been usurped by China
      Source: Bloomberg  -  513 words
    • 1015 6 SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDER/DIRECTOR TRANSACTIONS (Disclosures made on Mar 16 and earlier) Subsantial No of Mce SHAREHOLDING Trans Shareholder/ Buv/ Shares r#r Before After Stock Date Director Sell '000 Shr 000) 000 > Nam Lee 16-Mar-06 Yong Poon Miew *Buy 132 na 5?'S Hotel Plaza 16-Mar-06 UOL Ltd Buy
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    • Article, Illustration
      893 6  -  Compiled by UMA SHANKARI China Dairy March 16 doM: 43.5 cents JP MORGAN RESEARCH, March 15 CHINA Dairy, listed in Singapore through reverse takeover in 2003, is the listing vehicle for Yinqiao Dairy the sixth'largest dairy in China based in Shaanxi province. Fraser Neave owns a 29 per cent
      Source: Bloomberg  -  893 words
    • 508 6  -  CURRENCIES LARRY WEE Senior Correspondent ASIAN currencies traded mostly sideways yesterday despite the US dollar trailing Wall Street in overnight performance and European currencies looking perkier ahead of an expected Swiss rate hike. A benign Beige Book briefing for US central bankers meeting
      Source: Reuters  -  508 words

  • Page 7 Advertisements
    • 112 7 m *''';*dMi. filhi mi" ii i in twi| jS|| —IMM > '1^^ 54l ELIZABRTH^^H I? fi I Rvvysyin v v« I V M§Mffgaj[Zd m I \M n i 'I^Baßfeft'er Iviaif.ctyThk^uHiaflM gs\\ mIHIE'V .-^M -«*r ..v^^OHl a battle royale at the Singapore Racecourse this Saturday, 18 March 2006 as Singapore's top
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  • SINGAPORE NEWS
    • 613 8  -  CHANGING BANKING LANDSCAPE It says banks tack its experience in loans for lowincome earners By LESLIE YEE GE MONEY chief executive officer Greg O'Callaghan reckons a review of the money-lending regime by the Ministry of Law and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) could
      FILE PHOTO  -  613 words
    • 504 8  -  By SIOW LI SEN STANDARD Chartered Bank said yesterday that it has joined a coalition of global financial institutions and Internet companies that aims to eradicate commercial child pornography from the Web by stifling the flow of payments that support the scourge. "Child pornography
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    • 339 9  -  KEY STATS CPI rises 1.5% for bottom 20% in H2 '05, against 0.2% for higher-income By OH BOON PING LOWER income households continued to experience a higher inflation rate than the middle and higher income group. Based on data released by the
      Source: DOS  -  339 words
    • 644 9  -  By MATTHEW PHAN AS HEAD of investments for JP Morgan's private banking operations in Singapore, Kwang Kam Shing leads the fast-paced life of a senior corporate executive. So one might expect the former competitive runner to be gunning for a top spot at
      FILE PHOTO  -  644 words
    • 256 9  -  By UMA SHANKARI SINGAPORE-LISTED FJ Benjamin, which recently announced that it will end its fiveyear joint venture in Singapore and Malaysia with fashion house Valentino, yesterday said that the decision was a mutual one brought about by differing opinions on how the partnership should develop.
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    • 414 9  -  By UMA SHANKARI ADVERTISING expenditure fell by 8.3 per cent in 2005 to $1.9 billion, according to figures released yesterday by Nielsen Media Research. And newspapers, traditionally the preferred medium for advertisers, reclaimed their status as the top choice for ad expenditure (AdEx),
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  • Page 8 Advertisements
    • 2395 8 :*at^ NOTICES foil free: 1800-239-8822 Email: notices@sph.com.sg In the Matter of the Companies Act, Cap. 50 Section 290(2)(b) And In the Matter of SHARIKAT TRANS-ORIENT SENDIRIAN BERHAD (In Members' Voluntary Liquidation Company Reg. No. *****0554R NOTICE OF RESOLUTIONS At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the above-named company
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    • 901 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE Originating Summons) No. *****/2006/T) IN THE MATTER OF SECTION 210 OF THE COMPANIES ACT (CAP. SO) And IN THE MATTER OF LUCATRON PACIFIC (S) PTE LTD (RC No. 19M*****G) SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT Under Section 210 of the Companies Act (Cap. 50,1994
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    • 1050 8 >AT3 oS? NOTICES foil free: 1800-289-8822 Email notices@sph.com.sg In the Matter of The Companies Act, Cap 50 And In the Matter of NICOTRA ASIA INDUSTRIES PTE LTD (In Members' Voluntary Liquidation) (Co. Reg. No. *****0941Z) NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 308 of the
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    • 200 8 IN THE MAfTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, CAP. 50 AND IN THE MATTER OF CONTROL TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS PTE LTD (IN MEMBERS' VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION) CO. REG. NO. *****5381Z NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 308( 1) of the Companies Act, Cap. 50, that a Final Meeting of the Members of
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  • Page 9 Advertisements
    • 1224 9 SP CHEMICALS LTD. (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) Company Registration No. *****5499R NOTICE OF FIFTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Fifteenth Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at Amara Hotel, 165, Tanjong Pagar Road, Ballroom 1, Level 3, Singapore *****9, on Wednesday,
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  • ECONOMY WATCH
    • 901 10 Investors tap growth in corporate investment Bloomberg [SINGAPORE] India may lure a record US$4 billion in private equity next year as buyout firms such as Actis Capital LLP and Blackstone Group LP, undeterred by soaring valuations, raise their bets on the world's second-most
      Bloomberg  -  901 words
    • 497 10 Japanese firms have improved their products IHT [LOS ANGELES] The American car industry is reeling from the news that General Motors and Ford are sharply scaling back domestic production. Both companies totter on the brink of financial ruin. Japanese carmakers,
      IHT; AP  -  497 words
    • 242 10 Bloomberg [WASHINGTON] The United Arab Emirates' economy minister will travel to Washington next week to meet US Trade Representative Rob Portman and other officials regarding the commercial relationship between the two nations. The US and UAE had postponed talks for a trade accord
      Bloomberg  -  242 words
    • 440 10 Bloomberg [JAKARTA] Indonesia, South-east Asia's largest economy, may increase electricity tariffs by as much as 15 per cent this year to curb the budget deficit, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said. To minimise the increase, the first since 2003, the government will ask state
      Bloomberg  -  440 words
  • Page 10 Advertisements
    • 990 10 SUN NETWORK LTD. (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) Company Registration No. *****7135Z NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of Sun Business Network Ltd. ("SBN" or the "Company") will be held on 30 March 2006 at 11 a.m., at
      990 words

  • MALAYSIA/INDONESIA
    • 870 11  -  VP and trade minister make it clear that this is 'the year of action' By SHOEB KAGDA in Jakarta WITH time running out to deliver on its promises of economic reforms, the Indonesian government is acutely aware that 2006
      AFP  -  870 words
    • 238 11 Bloomberg [KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia will set aside RM4.4 billion (Ssl.9 billion) to set up a Public Transportation Trust Fund to fund projects to improve public transportation, the Prime Minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday. The move is an effort to meet
      Bloomberg  -  238 words
    • 2296 11 VOl. General Corp 0.50 0.02 43 Mar It *M COOO) Genting -23.80 -0.10 88 George Kent .0.56 undi 396 ASM Realty 1.39 unch 35 GHL Systems .0.18 unch 2682 Abric 0.32 unch 37 Globetronics Tech 0.32 -001 1320 ACP Industries .0.94 0.02 1324 GlomacBhd 1.23 0.01 2495 Advance
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    • 323 11 M'sia will start culling birds in nearby area AP [KUALA LUMPUR] New outbreaks of the virulent HSNI strain of bird flu have been found in chickens in a village and birds in a wildlife park in the northern Malaysian state
      AP  -  323 words
  • Page 11 Advertisements
    • 855 11 Q§Q FU YU CORPORATION LIMITED rm ra m (Company Registration No. *****4601 C) Umh (incorporated in Singapore with limited liability) NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Fu Yu Corporation Limited ("the Compahy") will be held at Function Room, Level 2, Raffles
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  • GREATER CHINA
    • 574 12 Shifting from OEM production helps them lift their profit margins Reuters [HONG KONG] As rising costs and cut-throat competition put pressure on small and medium-sized companies in China, for-ward-looking manufacturers are looking to develop their own brands to maintain profit margins. Their aim
      Reuters  -  574 words
    • 337 12 Reuters [HONG KONG] Surging crude prices should help China's oil triumvirate, led by PetroChina Co Ltd, post record 2005 second-half profits but analysts warn that earnings growth may slow this year. China's oil heavyweights which include Asia's top refiner Sinopec Corp and offshore
      Reuters  -  337 words
    • 511 12 It can supercharge growth via acquisitions Reuters [TOKYO] Nasdaq is the most lucrative route to list Chinese technology firms, despite fierce competition from other bourses to attract newcomers, according to venture capital fund JAFCO Asia, which hopes to list three of its investments
      Reuters; AFP  -  511 words
    • 241 12 Reuters [BEIJING] Most Chinese urban residents still prefer to save rather than spend amid worries over higher costs for education, housing and pensions, the central bank said on Wednesday. The government is trying to stimulate consumption as a reliable source of demand to help
      Reuters  -  241 words
  • Page 12 Advertisements
    • 2866 12 MANDATORY CONDITIONAL CASH OFFER by CIMB-GK SECURITIES PTE. LTD. (Company Registration No. *****1621 D) (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) for and on behalf of ATB AUSTRIA ANTRIEBSTECHNIK AG (Incorporated in Austria) to acquire all the issued ordinary shares in the capital of LINDETEVES-JACOBERG LIMITED (Company Registration No. *****0172G) (Incorporated
      2,866 words

  • INDIA
    • 520 13 Parliament mulls amendment to takeover law AFP. Reuters [PARIS] Lakshmi Mittal, head of Mittal Steel, on Monday warned Luxembourg against adopting legislation that would foil his plans to acquire European steelmaker Arcelor, a deal he said has the backing of up to 60 per cent
      AFP.; Reuters  -  520 words
    • 447 13 Reuters [MUMBAI] Goldman Sachs has sold its stakes in two Indian joint ventures for US$74 million and will start its own investment banking and securities businesses in the fast-growing Indian market, the US bank said yesterday. Goldman also said it would
      Reuters  -  447 words
    • 563 13  -  Civilian nuclear technology and equipment sales worth billions SIDDHARTH SRIVASTAVA in New Delhi WITH the Indo-US nuclear pact agreed, the lobbyists and salesmen have taken over. Although Washington has been insisting that the nuclear deal goes beyond commercial matters, the business potential cannot
      563 words
    • 748 13  -  Demand seen rising due to economic growth and reform By PRIYANKA BHARDWAJ in New Delhi INDIA'S economic reforms, growth and higher income have had one spin-off— the rapid rise of designer and expensive items of desire, whether they be watches, jackets, shoes, mobile phones,
      PHOTOS: CHANEL, AFP, REUTERS  -  748 words

  • ASIA-PACIFIC
    • 458 14 It is currently negotiating to sell the subsidiary to SoftBank NYT. Bloomberg [TOKYO] Vodafone Group's sale of its Japanese mobile phone subsidiary may become Asia's biggest leverkged buyout. A group of private equity firms is planning an unsolicited US$l5 billion cash bid for the
      NYT.; Bloomberg; AFP  -  458 words
    • 307 14 Reuters [NEW YORK] Microsoft's highly anticipated operating system will potentially create a US$37O million market in the US later this year for computer owners who want to upgrade to Vista, a Samsung Electronics executive said. Some 37 million personal computers have
      Reuters  -  307 words
    • 296 14 Bloomberg [HANOII Vietnam is targeting deepwater areas off the nation's coast in a bid to expand petroleum reserves, as output from existing fields slows. PetroVietnam, the state-owned company, expects to sign four new exploration contracts with foreign partners this year, Vice-President Nguyen Dang Lieu said.
      Bloomberg  -  296 words
    • 5223 14 UNIT TRUSTS FUNDS ACM Amer Income B USD 8.64/ ACM Amer Income A EUR 7.1V ACM Amer Income B EUR 7.15/ AM A«roAawt M(t (Spore) ACM Europ Income Opp AT SGD 14.95/ Sar Eirae Seftl 0.92# ACM Europ Income Opp BT SGD 14.93/ SnrEifopeBond 1.5# ACM Europ Income Opp AT
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  • Page 14 Advertisements
    • 32 14 if DIT Europazins Best Bond Europo Fund ovor Syrs category Allianz (Hi) > rated AA by Standard Poor's. ciobaiinvestors Source: The Fclge I ippei SifKj.ipoi" I urn I m.\ ti»;•. ,'U »»> «im|xiny»h» i*****M>y/
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  • ASIA-PACIFIC/WORLD
    • 568 15 It would be the world's largest market for futures and options trading NYT. Reuters [FRANKFURT] A potential American takeover of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) has driven two rival exchange operators, Euronext and Deutsche Boerse, into serious merger talks. On Wednesday,
      NYT.; Reuters  -  568 words
    • 355 15 LATEST US DATA Reuters. AP. Reuters,AP, Bloomberg [WASHINGTON] US inflation was tame last month and the pace of housing construction slowed, according to government reports yesterday that led financial markets to trim bets on how far interest rates will rise. US consumer prices rose a
      Reuters.; AP.; Reuters,AP, Bloomberg  -  355 words
    • 213 15 Reuters [NEW YORK] A Japanese drugmaker said 11 patients taking its Alzheimer's disease drug Aricept died during a clinical trial. Eisai Co Ltd said there were no deaths among patients receiving placebos. The drug, which Eisai markets with Pfizer Inc for
      Reuters  -  213 words
    • 175 15 Reuters [BANGKOK] Thailand's top energy firm PTT may put off a US$77O million plan to list its Rayong Refinery to May from April because of uncertainty in the market. "We are considering the plan and looking for the right time because of market uncertainty,"
      Reuters; AFP  -  175 words
    • 427 15 Reuters [MOSCOW] Ministers from the world's top energy players began talks aimed at creating consensus on energy security problems that will only get more acute in the years ahead. Moscow is hosting a meeting of G8 energy ministers for the first
      Reuters  -  427 words
    • 310 15 AFP [TOKYO] Japan's Livedoor is forming a business alliance with cable broadcaster Usen to stay afloat after being indicted for financial fraud. The two companies aim to bring together Livedoor's Internet portal site and Usen's broadband services, although the full extent of their
      AFP  -  310 words
  • Page 15 Advertisements
    • 232 15 Get up to speed even before you step into the office. Reod all the latest financial news, insights and 111 mm I m analyses in the comfort of your home. Invest in o 12-month subscription of The Business limes at I I 1111 111 1 I $225.25* (usual $265) and
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  • AVIATION
    • 581 16 Breaking even for Q4 would be an achievement in itself, says EVP Bloomberg {TAIPEI] EVA Airways Corp, Taiwan's secondlargest carrier, may report its biggest annual profit slump in four years in 2005 after a surge in jet fuel costs, based on
      Bloomberg; FILE PHOTO  -  581 words
    • LOG BOOK
      • 63 16 AP [SYDNEY] United Airlines announced yesterday that it would cut 100 jobs in Australia as it streamlines operations. It said that from May, customer service and ground handling at Melbourne and Sydney airports would be outsourced, followed by reservations in early June. The
        AP  -  63 words
      • 73 16 Bloomberg [TOULOUSE] Air France has reached an agreement with unions representing ground crew and cabin staff covering salaries for 2006 and 2007. The agreement will give employees a one-time bonus of 500 euros (Ss9Bo) to be paid in April 2006, as well as
        Bloomberg  -  73 words
      • 84 16 Reuters [HANOI] Vietnam said yesterday that it was seeking a consultant to advise on the partial sale of Pacific Airlines, the country's second-largest airline which escaped closure in late 2004 and is now valued at US$l67 million. "The Finance Ministry is looking to hire
        Reuters  -  84 words
      • 76 16 Bloomberg [MANILA] Philippine Airlines may have to cut flights if more of its 418 pilots quit for higher-paying jobs at overseas carriers, president Jaime Bautista said yesterday. It has lost 78 pilots in the past three years to carriers like Qatar Airways and Etihad
        Bloomberg  -  76 words
    • 285 16 [SINGAPORE] Qantas announced yesterday that it would join other oneworld alliance airlines in co-lo-cating at London Heathrow's Terminal 3 in 2008. Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the move would follow the opening of Heathrow's new Terminal 5 in March 2008.
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    • 547 16 Bloomberg. AFP [KUALA LUMPUR] Air Asia, South-east Asia's biggest low-fare carrier, secured government approval to take over Malaysian Airline System's (MAS) domestic flights to small towns and rural areas. Air Asia and MAS will submit a report to the government
      Bloomberg.; AFP; FILE PHOTO  -  547 words
    • 564 16 Bloomberg [NEW DELHI] The mooted merger of India's two staterun airlines, Air India and Indian, is likely to happen within the current fiscal year, Civil Aviation Minister PrafuJ Patel said yesterday. "It is an absolutely logical proposal to consolidate
      Bloomberg  -  564 words
    • 546 16 OTT wmmt iu man tn> izg »1* ]gg Ah.ilrt.1 oil hwt— j ?ii I Singi WW Mli i?i? s® WWHI II 991 f| FJ|| |jj| faTM 2050 «W' jj ai ~p B a wtrlil 11 1 9 ii SHKI III 4a i 1(1 Mi S5S-- #wwl
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  • SHIPPING
    • 154 17 Bloomberg [HONG KONG] Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, PSA International Pte and other operators of Hong Kong's port handled 6.7 per cent more containers in February than a year ago, boosted by China's expanding trade with the US and Europe. Cargo volume in Hong Kong, the
      Bloomberg  -  154 words
    • 285 17 SGX '000 Mar It S> Vol CH Offshore 0.38 -0.01 323 ChuanHup 0.3S -0.01 1550 Cosco Corporation.. 1.24 0.02 8615 CWT Distribution 1.05 0.01 24 Ezra Hldgs 2M 0.08 660 Freight Links 0.06 unch 624 Grand Banks Yacht 0.92 unch 0 Jaya Holdings 1.29 unch 426 K1 Venture
      285 words
    • 733 17  -  ADMIRALTY CASEBOOK By SELVA KUMAR Canberra's transport safety investigators have called on ship owners, managers, statutory authorities and classification societies to urgently inspect keel attachments for hooks on lifeboats to ensure that they are structurally sound. This follows a year-long investigation into a lifeboat accident onboard
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    • 368 17 Move ends critics' speculation about the 'transfer to a US entity' AP [WASHINGTON] The Du-bai-owned company that had sought to buy several port terminals in major East Coast cities confirmed on Wednesday that it would sell those operations to an
      AP; AFP  -  368 words
    • 363 17 Bloomberg [TAIPEI] Evergreen Marine Corp, operator of Asia's largest container shipping line, said it is planning to order at least 20 container ships in the next 10 years to replace existing vessels. Purchase of the ships, each able to carry 7,000 20foot
      Bloomberg  -  363 words
    • 751 17  -  By CLARENCE MICHAEL in Dubai ALTHOUGH the dust has hardly settled on its gaining control of six US ports, Du-bai-based DP World is already looking to bigger challenges ahead with confidence. Speaking to BT, DP World CEO Mohammed Sharaf said: "We
      BLOOMBERG  -  751 words
  • Page 17 Advertisements
    • 581 17 RAFFLES EDUCATION CORPORATION LIMITED (Incorporated In the Republic of Singapore) (Company Registration Number *****0712N) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company will be held at 11 Beach Road, #06-05. Singapore *****5 on 3 April 2006 at 11.00 a.m., for the purpose of considering and, if
      581 words

  • EDITORIAL & OPINION
    • 525 18 EDITORIAL UP until the start of this year, unlisted companies that wished to raise capital from the equity market had to follow the traditional initial public offer (IPO) path of trying to satisfy the Singapore Exchange's (SGX's) listing requirements, appointing an underwriter or lead
      525 words
    • 1058 18  -  The US is replacing its earlier focus on unilateral action by a new readiness to consult allies SHADA ISLAM Brussels Correspondent THREE years after their acrimonious public clash over the US-led invasion of Iraq, European and American policymakers are engaged in a long,
      REUTERS  -  1,058 words
    • 768 18  -  THE BOTTOM LINE FRANK CHING IN the wake of widely publicised cases of innocent people being found guilty in the Chinese legal system, top judicial and prosecutorial officials have told the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, of steps to ensure that such
      768 words
    • 1503 19  -  Increasing demand for dairy products is sowing a highly lucrative business for both small farmers and corporations By NICOLE LIANG HUI MEI TUCKED away from the buzz of Chinese cities are an enterprising population of dairy farmers and manufacturers who have recently become a catalyst for
      PHOTOS: BLOOMBERG  -  1,503 words
    • 699 19  -  By DAVID BROOKS NYT SOME weeks nothing happens; some weeks change history. The week of March 24, 2003, was one of those pivotal weeks. US troops had just begun the ground invasion of Iraq. They were charging north, but hadn't reached Baghdad. The Fedayeen started
      NYT  -  699 words
    • 224 19  -  LETTER TO THE EDITOR Lawrence Lee Singapore IT would be better for Singapore if there were standout winners in the bidding for the integrated resort-with-casino projects at Marina Bay and Sentosa as it would have the "wow" effect to make it truly Uniquely Singapore. The
      224 words


  • 10708 20 SGX MAINBOARD Transaction date: Mar 16 52 WV Til Last Vol Day Last Quote GrDtv Dtv GrVM Nat MCap High Low Coda Company Sala COOP) High Low 8uyar Satar Cvr fit SmM 5 2 5716 IstSoftwareSt 2 unch 1284 2 2 2 2.5 8.1 18.5 6 3148 8TelecomUS2c
    10,708 words

  • 5999 21 FINANCE COMMODITIES MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL INDICES In local curr in Si Hi USS dy yr dy yr dy %yr 15 lnd»» Chanqo Change Chjr.qc Ounqp Change Change Wnrld Inde* Preliminary 1016.0 0.1 *8 -01 2.7 Oil 5.5 WE Preliminary 1030.6 02 53 01 46 0J 7.4 fwope Preliminary U8U
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  • Page 22 Advertisements
    • 1263 22 v- NYK GROUP SOUTH ASIA PTE LTD NTKun BTS K. LIME Fax: 6292 2856 (Regional sales)/ 6239 7109 (OPSV 6299 5785 (Documentation) 1T NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA TOKYO KASHA. UO (C/R NO: **********0E) UK CONTINENT SERVICE U.S.A SERVICE Destination Destination ERIKOUSA RDM/ATW/BMN/TIB/NAN HANJIN HOUSTON VCB/VCW/LAX/MZL Loods Singapore, E./W Malaysia, Indonesia Loods
      1,263 words
    • 793 22 jINTIRASIA RORO SMtVICT vßsa/vor imwti mbchw pig km m I sm I jkt snunswtmjcos/o* is 37 72/03 ?vt)3 30/03 02/04 04/04 SItAITSYtNTUB 06/06 IS 3? 04/04 01/04 10/04 73/04 7S/04 STKAJTS YBTUtt 0//Q4 IS I t 77/84 30/04 04/0S 07/DS 01/05 IAUSTRAUAfTROROSIRVICi I VCSa/VOT iMfEDI HBCWTWI to ism mi STB
      793 words

  • Page 23 Advertisements
    • 1694 23 WAN HAJ INTERNATIONAL PTI LTO a** **********0/11 V- TH: *****58S (14 IMS) FAX: *****163 \w\WAN HAI LINES V JOMIfcIWISIinSBUtWBSIIBIMIBiWDJJfSWJHUtWIUWM/WIJOJ *r*:|O2t)«S4IMRI:Rn)SIS47MIIA«:7I4JM/716»1R1:*****9 WWW.WWW.WW.iI RI1H: (061 >*****63 MX: **********25/414W09 I'ytssa I vot Irw I ria reu aw w nm rh wc hot wk I tto I tok I itws Iwo w I MNNN2II
      1,694 words
    • 1097 23 VESSEL VOY Jig HKG JHH_ _IK_ JYH_ _fUS_ VESSEL VOY_ AN JICT SUB HKG USH PUS HYVUDIVOSTOK 1/g" 17/3 19/3 ~24/T 26/3 »/3 30/3 30/3 SUNSET UY 603S 19/3 22/3 23/3 28/3 1/4 2/4 HYPBO6BESS HQS 23/3 25/3 30/3 1/4 3/4 5/4 V 4 KMK WJSAM 6Q4S 26/3 29/3 30/3
      1,097 words
    • 848 23 m SidLFA WEEKLY EXPRESS SAILING SCHEDULE lALSOACCEPTING TO ALL NORTHERN AND WESTERN ICD POINTS I VESSEL I vor I SIN PJOANcI COLOMBO I H SHEVA I COLOMBO I Iliiuiv tANDHI I oioiw ITo APt I UAH I I4AW I 17 Aft I 20AW I ALSO" ACCFTMG Fa TO COO* TUIKORW
      848 words

  • Page 24 Advertisements
    • 840 24 HNordana (Asia) Pte Lid 70 Sh-low Way, *21-03 Moriwc Hhm Shwwt *****$ NORTH WEST EXPRESS LINE MONTHLY SIRVICI TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND ISLANDS DATS ARE ARRIVAL DATES I VESSEL VOT Swart Fra—th Cocos Itlani CWhtu \iimA Jakarta gjfjTfrw Iriwd H* Cwhrn klond Exarass 1E602 I QIM&I lilfll liM 1! I
      840 words
    • 728 24 VESSEL VOY SjN PCM VKSa WT sm JKT PACIAMDA IM7N 15/03 14/03 PAC HHTAM *342 Tt7os 21/03 CSf 2301 5211! ]im IZZ92— —iZ7TBTiu Hli IKB PACIANDA 16MW 17/03 17/03 Iff ffS ~4^T— PAC lAHDA 148SM MIS! H/M -*T7-ro}jjj M g4§ cy 2301 02i3t_ lIZM WW M gg mum 1690H W1
      728 words
    • 388 24 BSA x MYANMA nHffi FIVE STAR UNE (Myanmor National Line) Loadin| for Yang oh Vissa VOY 1 M POI PGU OHM SHWE HAW 90W SU> PAGAN 349W SID IN MALAYSIA: WUSTEAD SHIPPING AGENCIES KUI/PKL: 03-***** 3M PEN: 04-*****1S m ACCEPTINB CONVENTIONAL C6O VESSa VOY HK PKL KM TH UU SDK
      388 words

  • THE BUSINESS TIMES SHIPPING TIMES
    • 6661 25 This ETA ETA Adverts* Vessel Voyage Telephone ETA ETA Advertiser Voxel Voyage Telephone SM Dest'n Name Name Number Number SIN Desfn Name Name Number Number To HAIPHONG (HPH) 2147 Vietnam To ABIDJAN (ABJ) 2003 Cote D'lvoire 2 5X>3 01/04 Gemailrans platinum diamond 33N *****662
      6,661 words

  • executive lifestyle
    • 557 26  -  off the cuff jaime ee HAVE you been feeling under the weather lately? Have you been having trouble sleeping because you keep dreaming of sheep jumping over your head while bleating, "one million, two million Do you drive past old condos chanting
      557 words
    • 1510 26 Funky boutique hotels conceptualised by daring entrepreneurs is a growing trend around the world and Singapore is no exception. We profile four similarly enterprising hotel operators around Asia who are making a mark of their own Yenn Wong Jia Boutique Hotel Apartments www.jiahongkong.com 1 5 Irving Street Causeway
      FILE PHOTO; THAM JIRARAT  -  1,510 words
  • Page 26 Advertisements

  • COVER
    • 1107 27  -  By GEOFFREY EU Christopher Ong Galle Fort Hotel Tel: +94 91 223 2870 www.galleforthotel.com infoGgalleforthotel.com 28 Church Street, Galle Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka AFTER turning his'back on a highprofile career as an investment banker with a billion-dollar portfolio, Christopher Ong started travelling the world in search of inspiration
      1,107 words
  • Page 27 Advertisements
    • 39 27 ®Herman Miller eames find out why this lounge chair ottoman remains a favourite aftec 50 years www.hermanmiller.com/eamestounge usual $***** X exclusive avaiiawe at support authentic designs X-tra living 1 9 penang road 01-01 park mall ***** 0688 e living©xtra.com.sg
      39 words
    • 781 27 >AT^ NOTICES Toll fiee: 1800 289 8822 Email torn sg l SUN BUSINESS NETWORK LTD. (Incorporated in the Republic erf Singapore) Company Registration No. *****7135Z NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the Company will be held on 30
      781 words
    • 358 27 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, CAP. 50 ANON THE MATTER OF LANDMARK INVESTMENTS PTE LTD COMPANY REG NO: 1903-*****-W (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice of Resolution At an Extraordinary General Mooting of the members of LANDMARK INVESTMENTS PTE LTD duty held and converted at Blk 86 Marine Parade Central
      358 words

  • WINE/CINEMA
    • 1039 28  -  The smoothness of Gruner Veltliner goes well with sashimi, says N K YONG N K YONG A WEEK ago, I was dining in one of Singapore's finest Japanese restaurants and had brought with me a bottle of Emmeri ich Knoll's Gruner Veltliner Reid Loibnerberg
      BLOOMBERG  -  1,039 words
    • 640 28  -  By PARVATHI NAYAR THE power of an idea to inspire, transform and liberate. Now that's the real idea peddled by V for Vendetta, the Wachowski brothers' triumphant comeback to moviemaking, after their dismal sequels to The Matrix. While the two films are completely different, Vendetta
      640 words
  • Page 28 Advertisements

  • ARTS
    • 1120 29  -  Out of his residency at the S'pore Tyler Print Institute, Ashley Bickerton has created challenging work, writes PARVATHI NAYAR PARVATHI NAYAR /Jf NE s art be dictated JJ W by one's lifestyle choices," m M says Ashley Bickerton, who currently lives the life of an I
      1,120 words
    • 525 29  -  By MATTHEW PHAN JAZZ, jazz, jazz after six full nights of the stuff, you'd think audiences would've had enough. But no, crowd after crowd piled into the Esplanade for the Mosaic Music Festival last week. Opening the festival last Friday was Hiromi
      525 words
  • Page 29 Advertisements
    • 257 29 *BE?Ancient Cures fIW I Modern Science Bggggj Founded on a Medical Legacy of The Vital Energy of 3 Generations Whole Reishi v With a family heritage steeped Long revered in the East, the many benefits of in medical innovation for over WHOLE Reishi (LmgZJn) have now been validated half a
      257 words
  • Page 29 Miscellaneous
    • 154 29 CRYPTIC CROSSWORD H H—HjHv—Bv—HJpHv—■ proves ment new use (6) |24 j j j j j I 1 tnnotcnmo 13 They impose restrictions in YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION 1 Enter expressly to get some _i n snire (5? e ranks Across: 1 Debutante, 6 Award, 9 2 c e ,[sTfBr ,n, aGerman 3
      154 words

  • FRENCH FLAIR
    • 1515 30  -  French cuisine has spread around the world, constantly evolving, yet remaining true to its roots. JAIME EE talks to some of its finest exponents in Singapore JAIME EE THERE may be times when you wonder what gave the French farmer who invented foie gras the original
      FILE PHOTOS; MADELEINE VEDEL  -  1,515 words
  • Page 30 Advertisements
    • 87 30 so much more to offer |j§ ofth® Sedan, Awwwtlc windscrtm wiftrs 1* 3 /oo ooa^ilm^ P ln 8001 sp c I#JPI e l In the Euro NCAP Safety Tests. EUROPE'S c Exklusiv Auto Services Pte Ltd Showrooms: 26 Leng Kee Road Tel: 6741-1 111- 7000-RENAULT, 7 Übi Close Tel: 6741-7622,
      87 words
    • 29 30 V 4 Am 111 F| i7|T|Tjl in the Formula I World Championship, Renault-powered cars have claimed 147 pole positions, 106 race victories, 7 Constructors' Championships and 6 Drivers' Championships.
      29 words