The Business Times, 2 November 2004

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Total Pages: 31
1 32 The Business Times
  • 14 1 THE BUSINESS TIMES SWGAPOREBS cents online at .contsg MICA (P) 023/03/2004 Tuesday, November 2,2004
    14 words
  • 589 1  -  AIA sheds agents to strengthen control By GENEVIEVE CUA [SINGAPORE] Singapore's largest insurer, AIA, has lost more than 1,000 agents so far this year mainly through attrition as it redoubles efforts to raise its business practice standards. For the first time, it
    589 words
  • 138 1 STI 1,978.79 (-1.90) ST INDEX FUTURES 1,983.00 (unch) SIMSCI 237.51 (-0.36) SIMSCI FUTURES ***** (-0.10) MARKETS Monday Change KLSE COMP 864.04 +2.90 NIKKEI 225 *****71 -36.71 HANG SENG 13,094.25 +39.59 SET INDEX 626,96 -1.20 JAKARTA COMP 863.59 +3.10 MANILA COMP Ck>«d SEOUL COMP 835.66 +0.82 SHENZHEN B 223.33
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  • 47 1 TOP STORIES ...PG 2,4 COMPANIES... PG 6*9 MARKETS PG 8 SINGAPORE PG 11 ECONOMY PG 13 M'SIA PGI4 15 CHINA PG 18 INDIA PG 18 WORLD PG 19 AVIATION PG 20 SHIPPING PG 21 EDITORIAL PG 22 LETTERS PG 23 STOCKS PG 24-25 PROPERTY.. PG 30-32
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  • 688 1  -  But fewer manufacturers upbeat about business outlook for next 6 months: EDB poll By CHUANG PECK MING [SINGAPORE] Unemployment fell to a surprise 3.4 per cent the lowest level in more than three years at the end of September. But a similar improvement in
    688 words
  • Page 1 Advertisements
    • 15 1 Strong sterling takes shine jßß!||B|flH off London property Singaporeans pg 30 HH|H|Hfl^Q 9 -> 8 Hi
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    • 73 1 SHARE BUYBACK WARNING Pitfalls await the small S'pore punter PG6 iiflteMi Breguet. La passion laisse des traces. |y -Leßeve.ljL.Tsa." Man's Classmue alarm wristwatoh m 18-carat yellow gold SeK-w.nding movement ff~\ with small seconds and date Second time-zone indicator Silvereo gold d.a< hand-engraved on a V >f X rose-engme Sapphire caseback
      73 words
    • 11 1 Ec (ieorge Bush's K* economic record a reckoning pg 13 vl
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  • TOP STORIES
    • 694 2  -  Analysts say small revision to yuan peg will not lead to ringgit revaluation By PAULINE NG in Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA says it has no intention of scrapping its currency peg to the US dollar, but is keeping a close eye on
      694 words
    • 556 2 Are buybacks good for the share price? LAST Friday, United Overseas Bank announced a $500 million share buyback plan. Yesterday, the UOB counter rose 30 cents to $13.80. But our senior correspondent B Sivanithy wonders if there is any economic rationale for the share price to rise because
      556 words
    • 67 2 IN yesterday's report, "Anwell's placement tranche fully taken", we said incorrectly that An well Technologies' placement tranche was 70 million shares. The tranche, in fact, was 223.25 million shares, of which 30 per cent were taken up by Chartered Asset Management, Ward Ferry Management, APS Asset Management and Wessex
      67 words
    • 489 2 Race is still too close to call on last day of campaign AP. AFP [CINCINNATI] President George W Bush and challenger John Kerry yesterday swung into the last day of campaigning, hoping an election too close to call will end with everyone
      AP.; AFP  -  489 words
    • 883 4  -  Success finds them in happy situation of having to turn away clients By SIOW LI SEN [SINGAPORE] The Singapore fund management industry is coming of age. Increasingly, more fund managers are enjoying the luxury of being "closed or soft closed" industryspeak for turning away
      883 words
    • 340 4  -  Final appointment could be made next month By RONNIE LIM [SINGAPORE] The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has shortlisted "a handful" of consultants from the 26 groups vying to carry out a feasibility study on the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for power needs.
      340 words
  • Page 2 Advertisements
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      415 words
    • 60 2 Incorporation services in all major jurisdictions Global network of offices Ready-made companies available Management and administration services China business registration Accounting and trade support services Virtual office solutions Personal and corporate bank introductions TO ARRANGE A FREE CONSULTATION CONTACT: Simon ne Toh T: +65 6535 3382 F: +65 6535 3991
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    • 17 2 your car.? 05 I Call our C.A.T.S. hotline at c.a.t.s. 1800-289-9988. Buy It. Sell It. Find It.
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  • Page 3 Advertisements
    • 104 3 There's never been a better climate for growth in Asia Pacific. With this pace of growth comes a demand for the latest products, from air conditioners to refrigerators to washing machines. Whether you export or import blowers, dryers, pumps, compressors or just about anything else, our express distribution and logistics
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  • Page 4 Advertisements
    • 156 4 i .-i >-• ,'fe v•' 2 AJovembci* 2004 -^^TwfClubCharit^^' Scslc&tctt* OoMMtey Clwb November ioo^^y Quest of Honowi 4 JNing Howg ?fe CKcii 4 -Xee iv.'>* > Vv V "P? V-" > v v v >--* r* ■MimlUMi' '»r. «j 4 «atb *e«*s«v-.v a organised by 4)e is one of several
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  • Page 5 Advertisements
    • 309 5 •.'"ts*" 5 *$'y%£?r~ a^s^a :V; ?jdll|ii*. f~? "it '''i^-.l^ "w life iK X -r 111 tla ■f II I •■J| H v If Hfl II II I If H II II B I ,'iMrn I 1 I —MKfeT ;WB Ht 9 K HI H B 'Mm."-- 9 K I M%;'
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  • COMPANY NEWS
    • 639 6  -  Likely economic slowdown next year may affect outlook, they warn By JOYCE KOH ANALYSTS yesterday praised both DBS Group's and United Overseas Bank's solid third-quarter performances but cautioned that the spectre of a possible economic slowdown next year could cast a shadow over the
      BLOOMBERG  -  639 words
    • 218 6 Bloomberg [HONG KONG] UOB-Kay Hian Holdings Ltd's Hong Kong unit said it signed an agreement to acquire the retail broking business of BNP Paribas Peregrine Securities Ltd here. "The acquisition poses a good opportunity for us to expand," said Tang Kay Hwa,
      Bloomberg  -  218 words
    • 613 6  -  HOCK LOCK SIEW By R SIVANITHY AFTER an absence of many months, share buybacks seem to be slowly making a reappearance in the local market, with UOB's $500 million buyback plan announced last Friday being the latest. Judging by the market's response to
      613 words
    • 34 6 UNIT TRUSTS FUNDS LEGEND:All prices are indicative;Broadly Diversified; Narowly Focused;$ Lower Risk;^ Low to Medium Risk;& Medium to High Risk;** Higher Risk;open-ended;+Before subdivision of units;After subdivision of units;SP after stock split N.A-Non Dealing Day
      34 words
    • 369 7  -  By KENNETH LIM THE independent directors of recently listed New Lakeside Holdings have proposed the removal of managing director Sun Ji Wei and executive director and chief financial officer Xu Li Xin for alleged failure to carry out their duties. The independent
      369 words
    • 378 7  -  It gained $14.3m from sale of 80% stake in Ceritas New Zealand; made big reduction in staff and support costs By RAJU CHELLAM INFOTECH services provider Singapore Computer Systems (SCS) reversed a threemonth $29 million loss a year ago to produce a profit of
      Source: Bloomberg  -  378 words
    • 320 7  -  By JEAN CHUA PLASTICS firm Fu Yu Corp has reported a 30.1 per cent jump in third-quarter net profit, thanks to better business at its subsidiaries in China. Net profit for the three months ended Sept 30 rose to $15.68 million from a
      320 words
    • 709 9  -  Fund firm will buy stakes in companies, help to revamp operations By JOYCE KOH FUND firms these days don't just sit passively on their investments, but take up stakes in companies with an eye on control and a mission to restructure and
      ARTHUR LEE  -  709 words
    • 342 9  -  First acquisition after March listing on Sesdaq By JEAN CHUA MARINE services firm Aqua-Terra Supply Co is making its first acquisition after listing on Sesdaq in March, paying $9.23 million for a private company in a related business. Aqua-Terra says it will buy Marine
      342 words
    • COMPANY BRIEFS
      • 73 9 PI J\STIC injection moulding specialist Tech Group Asia said first-quarter net profit surged 124 per cent to $5.6 million, carrying on the momentum of the 176 per cent jump in the preceding quarter. Turnover for the three months ended Sept 30,2004, increased 26 per
        73 words
      • 61 9 TELECHOICE International posted a 2 per cent gain in Q3 group net profit to $4.2 million. Revenue rose 43.8 per cent to 127.8 million for the three months ended Sept 30, 2004. The mobile telecom equipment and solutions group announced an interim dividend of two
        61 words
      • 76 9 BIL yesterday reported Q1 net profit of US$lO.3 million, an increase of 17 per cent from the same period last year. It attributed the improvement mainly to improved trading performance at hotel group Thistle and lower financing costs offset by lower foreign exchange gains
        76 words
      • 65 9 SINGAPORE Telecommunications said yesterday its regional handphone customer base reached 56 million in the third quarter, up a solid 38 per cent from a year ago. The telco said its mobile subscribers, along with those of Sing Tel Optus in Australia and associates in India,
        65 words
      • 60 9 Reuters SINGAPORE Telecommunications is expected to post a 23 per cent rise in quarterly profits on the strength of its Australian unit Optus and other regional associates. But profit growth is expected to moderate in the current quarter as Optus and mobile phone businesses in
        Reuters  -  60 words
      • 64 9 THE Ascott Group yesterday announced the resignation of chief investment officer Ng Lui Kwang. This is the third member of Ascott's senior management to leave the group since the start of the year. The other two who bade farewell to Ascott earlier this year were Eugene
        64 words
      • 83 9 Bloomberg YELLOW Pages (Singapore) Ltd, a Singapore-based phone-directory company, plans to raise as much as US$l4O million selling shares in Singapore for the first time, according to a term sheet sent to investors. The company will sell 80 million shares, of which 36 million will
        Bloomberg  -  83 words
      • 62 9 SINGAPORE Technologies Electronics Limited (ST Electronics) has been awarded a contract to supply an Air Traffic Control Aerodrome Visual Simulator to India's Civil Aviation Training by the Airports Authority of India after a successful global tender by international competitors from Europe, North America and Asia,
        62 words
      • 77 9 MEDIFLEX, a disposable gloves manufacturer, yesterday launched its initial public offering of 34 million shares at 20 cents each to raise net proceeds of $5.3 million. The issue, priced at a historical price earnings ratio of 9.35 times, comprises a public tranche of 1.5 million
        77 words

  • Page 7 Advertisements
    • 35 7 1 1 I building Industry- /<N I I RMd# ,S^ONOLßuik«ng Singapore U9962 I 4 *> Alexandra Road a* 622* BMB VSX I Tel: 6222 0605 rax. rarrNo ot-mitm I fmall- M«o» --ono 1 ht ucWpUnt.hbl.t*iP 1
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    • 427 7 HP kim »n Petra Foods Limited and its subsidiaries (the "Group") is one of the world's major manufacturers and suppliers of cocoa ingredients, namely cocoa powder, cocoa butter and cocoa liquor. The Group produces cocoa ingredients in six countries and supplies its cocoa ingredients products to customers, including leading international
      427 words

  • SINGAPORE MARKETS
    • 526 8  -  STOCKS Not many people dare take the risk of putting a lot of money into this market, dealers say R SIVANITHY Senior Correspondent F| ROM the way trading went yesterday, punters were clearly not preH pared to bet too heavily on Wall Street rallying after
      Source: Bloomberg  -  526 words
    • Article, Illustration
      906 8  -  Compiled by KENNETH LIM Capita Land Nov 1 dose: $1.84 BNP PAKIBAS PEREGRINE. Nov 1 NET profit of $73.8 million in 3Q04 included disposal gains. Operating profit was roughly in line with our expectation. China and Australia remain the key contributors, with 36.6 per cent and 45.5 per
      Source: Bloomberg  -  906 words
    • Article, Illustration
      426 8 OTHER SINGAPORE INDICES Nov 1 VALUE CLOSE BT OB/OS +48.00 BT CADI -*****.00 BTIO-day MA -*****.00 -23.00 All-SG Equities 514.31 -1.78 SG Equities Elect 152.87 -1.68 SG Equities Fin 1593.30 +0.66 SG Equities Prop 472.54 -2.75 SIMSCI 237.51 -0.36 SiMSCI Futures 238.30 -0.10 MOST ACTIVE STOCKS VOLUME C2Q Hldqs 7c
      426 words
    • 538 8  -  CURRENCIES LARRY WEE Senior Correspondent THE US dollar was little sought in Asian currency trading yesterday despite recent gains on Wall Street ahead of what could prove to be an exceptionally volatile week. The first guesses as to who becomes the next US President
      Source: Reuters  -  538 words
    • TRADES TO WATCH
      • 106 8 NEPTUNE Orient Lines group president and chief executive David Lim exercised 600,000 share options at about $2.14 apiece yesterday, giving him a direct 0.04 per cent stake in the shipping line. Mr Lim, who joined NOL in July last year, did not hold any shares
        106 words
      • 132 8 MULTI-CHEM'S first couple has seen their combined shareholdings increase after chairman and chief executive Foo Suan Sai bought 887,000 shares on the open market yesterday at an average of about 30.7 cents each. His direct and deemed stake in the printed circuit board manufacturing
        132 words
      • 180 8 NEW York-based fund manager Arnhold and S Bleichroeder Advisers saw its deemed shareholding in Haw Par Corp increase to 10 per cent from 9 per cent after 2.1 million shares were bought on the open market on Oct 26. No price details were
        180 words
      • 64 8  -  Compiled by KENNETH LIM SNP Corp former deputy chairman Seow Kui Lim's deemed stake in the printing and publishing group increased to 2.084 per cent from 2.081 per cent after his spouse exercised 3,750 share options. No pricing details were disclosed. Mr Seow also has
        64 words

  • Page 9 Advertisements
    • 474 9 COSCO CORPORATION (SINGAPORE) LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) (Company Registration. No.: *****0159G) NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company will be held at Mandarin Court C D, 4th Floor, Grand Tower, Meritus Mandarin Singapore, 333 Orchard Road, Singapore
      474 words
    • 1 9 ES^
      1 words
    • 119 9 7 n; 5 I I.LM aPf Jll i: Heighten Your Image. Co P fj Cost savings and nothing less. Boss Design's renovation packages will |<S not burn a hole in your pocket. Thoughtfully assembled and unique, our packages boast f i? the latest in corporate and commercial designs, tailored to
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  • SMALL CAPS
    • 898 10  -  Investors need more than Mr Yap's optimism to assess the company's new strategy, says KENNETH LIM KENNETH LIM ONCE a market darling, ornamental fish breeder Qian Hu Corporation has struggled to stay fresh for investors disappointed with its third-quarter loss
      FILE PHOTO  -  898 words
    • 450 10  -  By TEH HOOI LING AMID weakness in second-liners, our small-cap portfolio slipped 1.4 per cent in the week to yesterday. Still, it fared much better than the UOB Sesdaq Index, which fell 2.3 per cent in the same period. There were just five
      450 words
  • Page 10 Advertisements
    • 180 10 M Lianhe Zaobao I Market I I shares I I f QFB s I lacklustre I results ■■nili 1 a KBEj last year I I I I I I ¥¥71 a J* J ■■•4-«-fc.-Swi. Presented H Diners Club Credit Card «ir,64M 0980 Where to wine, dine and entertain... <j>ea:a ffVf
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    • 174 10 childcare services? im Reach out to more readers by S* 5 f advertising in The Straits Times Classified. Call our C.A.T.S. hotline n at 1800-289-9988 and our friendly w i sales personnel will serve you. Buy It. Sell It. Find It. ~1 MERIT. US MANDARIN SINGAPORE T The Finesse of
      174 words

  • SINGAPORE NEWS
    • 465 11  -  Affected computers may freeze, lose data, or display a blue screen By RAJU CHELLAM IF you had bought a notebook computer from Toshiba Corp between April 2002 and now and found the system stalling or losing data, here's help. Toshiba said a
      465 words
    • 331 11 WATCH retail businessman Tay Liam Wee was named the Ernst Young (E&Y) Entrepreneur of the Year Singapore yesterday. The group managing director of Sincere Watch Ltd received his award from Raymond Lim, Acting Second Minister for Finance and Senior Minister of State
      FILE PHOTO  -  331 words
    • 253 11 THE Supreme Court of Singapore has announced the appointment of two more judges to hear arbitration cases at the High Court, a move seen to bolster Singapore's efforts in becoming the location of choice for commercial arbitration in the Asia-Pacific. The two judges
      253 words
    • 394 11 Bloomberg TEMASEK Holdings may make investors wait until next year for the chance to buy the first top-rated global bond from Asia outside Japan. A sale is unlikely this year because Temasek has sufficient cash to fund investments, bankers bidding for the
      Bloomberg  -  394 words
    • 503 11  -  By CHEN HUIFEN NUTRITION company Usana Health Sciences is on the way to achieving US$lO million in sales from Singapore this year despite having entered the market just about a year ago. According to Usana Singapore general manager Ng Keng Hean, the performance is
      503 words
    • 156 11 TEMASEK Holdings unit Mapletree Investments is forming a joint venture with Malaysian merchant banking group CIMB Bhd to develop and manage real estate opportunity funds in Malaysia. The funds can invest in all sectors of Malaysia's property market and in various tiers of
      156 words
  • Page 11 Advertisements

  • SINGAPORE FOCUS: INDUSTRY
    • 1211 12  -  Labelled a sunset industry in the 1980s, the sector has pulled up its socks and today is well prepared to meet January's lifting of quotas in the US, reports CHUANG PECK MING CHUANG PECK MING CLOTHING and textile producers in many parts of the developing world
      FILE PHOTOS  -  1,211 words
  • Page 12 Advertisements
    • 24 12 '/^tr *<*.? *V t xlf.S vv *-r TAKE YOURS BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF 0 J|| < S8 (~j f h Available at: Distributed by: gnc 1
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    • 19 12 Releasing a financial statement? Call 1800 289 8822 or email noticesGsph.com.sg to book your advertisement in our newspapers now.
      19 words
    • 764 12 LANKOM ELECTRONICS LIMITED (Incorporated in Bermuda) Company Registration Number: ***** NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special General Meeting of LANKom Electronics Limited (the "Company") will be held at 7F No. 5 Lane 345, Yang Guang Street, Neihu, Taipei 114, Taiwan on 19 November 2004 at 11.00 a.m., for the
      764 words

  • ECONOMY WATCH
    • 1058 13 Huge job losses overshadow strong growth prospects, lower inflation Bloomberg [WASHINGTON] US President George W Bush goes into today's election looking like a hero or a disappointment, depending on which statistics are used to judge the health of the nation's US$ll trillion economy. Inflation
      Bloomberg; BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO  -  1,058 words
    • 702 13 Economists predict further rate rises of between 25 and 75 basis points Bloomberg [SHANGHAI] China's first benchmark interest rate increase in nine years failed to persuade economists to cut estimates for growth in the world's fastest-growing major economy, a survey shows. The economy will
      Bloomberg  -  702 words
  • Page 13 Advertisements
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  • MALAYSIA COMPANIES
    • 704 14 Such firms set to get more business when govt spends on water projects Bloomberg [KUALA LUMPUR] YTL Corp, Malaysia's biggest builder, and pipemaker Engtex Group Bhd may be among stocks to gain as the country steps up efforts to avert water shortages.
      Bloomberg; Source: Bloomberg  -  704 words
    • 249 14 [KUALA LUMPUR] Proton Holdings Bhd's strategic partnership with Volkswagen AG (VW) has put an earlier deal by Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON) to distribute cars for the German company into question, according to a report in the Malaysian Business Times. EON had plans to
      249 words
    • 4 14
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  • Page 14 Advertisements
    • 89 14 H I I I Your knowledge I I of the market could I ~■-2 W&MEKk H I '-fJ^- T tSl§B- I ."*?L ,•«■•> ;>•.^^Kf-L 3*w H H ..->"*£ Vrrr" 5: 4"SK 'S 4*&» I y r I I -4i-t H H I I I WSM I 21 I you a
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    • 87 14 financial statement? Pnme City location 999 years from 6 Aug 1830 As\\ itpy' Can 1800 289 8822 or Approx 1111.5 sm/11,964 sq ft email notices@sph.com.sg Zoning :2003 Hotel Plot ratio: 4.2 /rV\^ a Xvv to book your advertisement 1985 Residential /A in our newspapers now. 990 ppha or approx. 5.54
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  • MALAYSIA/INDONESIA
    • 729 15  -  INDONESIAN INSIGHT Newly-elected President Yudhoyono has yet to specify how his government is planning to stimulate the economy SHOEB KAGDA Jakarta Correspondent TWO weeks after being sworn in as Indonesia's first directly elected president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has yet to clearly articulate his government's economic agenda.
      729 words
    • 302 15 M'sia sees 41 surge in Sept tourist arrivals Bloomberg [KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's tourist arrivals in September rose 41 per cent from a year earlier, boosted by visitors from South-east Asia and Japan, the tourism promotion agency said. The number of visitors jumped to 1.33 million in the month from 943,526
      Bloomberg; AFP  -  302 words
    • 117 15 AFP [JAKARTA] Indonesia's new attorney-general is considering the creation of a watchdog body to monitor state prosecutors in a drive to improve the country's flaccid and graft-tainted legal system, an official said yesterday. Abdul Rahman Saleh, appointed last month by new President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, would
      AFP  -  117 words
    • 374 15 He declines to say if he's willing to meet ex-DPM Anwar Reuters [KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday the government needed to work harder to tackle corruption as he marked one year in office. "I have only finished one
      Reuters  -  374 words
    • 273 15 Reuters [KUALA LUMPUR] Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered Pic has estimated its Malaysian business will deliver pre-tax profit growth of nearly 20 per cent in 2004, a source close to the bank told Reuters yesterday. Standard Chartered declined to comment. The Malaysian unit made
      Reuters  -  273 words
  • Page 15 Advertisements
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  • GREATER CHINA/INDIA
    • 407 18 Beijing meeting growing demand for good business education [BEIJING] China is emerging as a main centre of topflight business education, according to a Financial Times ranking of Executive MBAs, with four of the top 20 programmes based here. The finding underscores
      407 words
    • 39 18 TRICK OR TREAT IN SHANGHAI [SHANGHAI] Chinese wearing costumes at a Halloween party held on a ship in the Huangpu River in Shanghai in east China on Saturday. Western festivals are gaining popularity among educated youth in China. AP
      AP  -  39 words
    • 460 18 AFP [BEIJING] Up to 100,000 farmers clashed with police in south-west China, protesting compensation payments for farmland requisitioned to make way for a hydroelectric plant, local residents and reports said yesterday. Unrest at the Pubugou hydroelectric project on the Dadu river in Sichuan
      AFP  -  460 words
    • 524 18 AFP [SHANGHAI] Plaza 66, Citic, Portman, New Sogo, Times Square, Three on the Bund and soon 18 on the Bund: in China's wealthiest city Shanghai, skyscrapers are pushing through old suburbs and temples to luxury abound. "Five years ago, there were about 20-30
      AFP; PHOTO: AFP  -  524 words
    • 563 18 Bloomberg [MUMBAI] State Bank of India (SBI) says it plans to buy local and overseas lenders to boost growth and maintain its position as the country's biggest commercial bank as the government encourages consolidation in the industry. The Mumbai-based lender may buy
      Bloomberg  -  563 words
    • 451 18 Reuters [NEW DELHI] The Indian government has .extended a three-month freeze on retail orates of dieael and petrol despite -firm prices in the global crude oil market, a move analysts say will rein in inflation but hurt oil firms. "There is
      Reuters  -  451 words

  • ASIA-PACIFIC/WORLD
    • 518 19 Record oil prices slow industrial growth, consumer spending rises 0.6% Bloomberg, AP AP [WASHINGTON] A gauge of US manufacturing fell to a 13-month low in October as fewer factories reported production gains, suggesting higher energy prices may be beginning to restrain growth, a
      Bloomberg, AP; AP  -  518 words
    • 577 19 AFP [TOKYO] Japan's Hello Kitty, the moon-faced, mouthless white cat, celebrated her 30th birthday yesterday, evolving from a nameless feline on a cheap vinyl purse into the money-making global icon of cuteness. Hello Kitty comes on dolls, key chains, clothes, credit
      AFP  -  577 words
    • 465 19 AFP [WASHINGTON] Favoured by shoppers but criticised by organised labour, WalMart the world's No 1 retailer has been a discreet participant in the US presidential election campaign. The company, which reported sales of US$256 billion last year, would be the 20th largest economy
      AFP; BLOOMBERG  -  465 words
    • 429 19 High oil prices, weak earnings turn investors off stocks [LONDON] Global funds poured more money into bonds in October than in any other month this year while withdrawing investments from equities, the Financial Times reported, citing new data. Asset managers in charge of US$3,OOO
      429 words
    • WORLD WATCH
      • 86 19 Reuters [TOKYO] Toyota Motor Corp, the world's most profitable car maker, posted a surprise drop in quarterly profits despite robust overseas sales growth as a strong yen and rising materials and sales costs took their toll. The Japanese car producer booked a 2.2 per cent
        Reuters  -  86 words
      • 63 19 Reuters [MUMBAI] India's Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) said yesterday it had agreed to acquire Tyco Global Network for US$ 130 million, giving it control over a network 0f60,000 kilometres spread over three continents. The acquisition from Tyco International Ltd is subject to approval
        Reuters  -  63 words
      • 127 19 Bloomberg [TOKYO] Isetan Co, Japan's fourth-largest department store operator, said first-half profit rose almost four-fold after cost cuts and the sale of a building and land. Net income for the six months ended Sept 30 rose to about 8.7 billion yen (Ssl 36 million)
        Bloomberg  -  127 words
      • 107 19 Reuters [AMSTERDAM] ABN Amro NV, the Netherlands' biggest bank, reported a net profit of 838 million euros (Ssl .8 billion) for the third quarter, changed from a year ago and helped by significantly lower loan-loss provisions. ABN Amro, which is expected to
        Reuters  -  107 words
      • 101 19 Bloomberg [BANGKOK] PTT Exploration Production pel, Thailand's second-largest natural gas producer, said thirdquarter profit rose 6 per cent as sales of the fuel increased. Net income rose to 4.1 billion baht(Ssl66 million) from 3.9 billion baht a year earlier, the company said. Sales increased
        Bloomberg  -  101 words
    • 335 19 Reuters [TOKYO] Goldman Sachs is" considering a tender offers for all shares in Takefuji Corp, Japan's biggest consumer finance company, after months of fruitless ne-* founding matter said. The US investment bank may set up a holding company to buy Takefuji which
      Reuters  -  335 words

  • AVIATION
    • 522 20  -  Check-in too can be done via carrier's website, with quick confirmation By VEN SREENIVASAN [SINGAPORE] Log on to the Singapore Airlines website. Scan the plane's seat map. Then, choose your seat. Click to select seat, and check-in. Then, wait a moment for
      522 words
    • 149 20 Reuters [KUWAIT CITY] Kuwait's government said on Sunday it had approved a draft law to set up a public international air freight company as part of the state's drive to open the airline sector to competition. The draft was approved by the
      Reuters  -  149 words
    • 390 20 AIRLINE CODES: AA: American Airlines (AAL), AF Air France (AFR), AI: Air India (AK), AY Finnair Oy (FIN), AZ: Alitalia Airlines (AZA),BA: British Airways Public Ltd Co (BAW), BG Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BBC), BI: Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd (RBA), BO Bouraq Airlines (BOU), BR EVA
      390 words
    • 56 20 [LONDON] The 900-tonne, 32-metre high top section of the new control tower at Heathrow Airport being moved across the runway to the central area where it will be raised over the coming months to its full height of 87 metres. The control tower is expected to
      AP  -  56 words
    • 346 20 It's forecast to fly 2,800-strong fleet in 20 years AFP JZHUHAI, China] US aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing expects China will be the world's second largest commercial aviation market after the United States, flying a 2,800strong fleet of planes within 20 years, the
      AFP  -  346 words
    • 246 20 AFP [HANOI] Eight people have been arrested following a corruption probe into a US$l5 million loss incurred by Vietnam Airlines' gasoline trading subsidiary, Vinapco, state media said yesterday. Four officials from Vinapco. which has a monopoly on the import of aviation fuel
      AFP  -  246 words
    • 751 20 NYT [CHlCAGO] After half a decade of turmoil, a picture of air travel in the United States is starting to emerge, and it is far different from the caring image the airlines like to present. In an artsy television commercial
      NYT; FILE PHOTO  -  751 words

  • SHIPPING
    • PORT SHOTS
      • 75 21 Reuters [ISTANBUL]Turkey's Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits reopened to tanker traffic at midday yesterday after heavy fog forced their closure overnight, maritime officials said. Only one tanker larger than 200 metres was waiting in the Black Sea to enter the straits yesterday morning, officials said.
        Reuters  -  75 words
      • 100 21 Bloomberg [LONDON] Egypt's revenue from the Suez Canal linking the Mediterranean and the Red Sea fell 2.1 per cent in September from a month earlier as fewer vessels passed through the waterway. Revenue fell to U*****.8 million from U*****.5 million in August, according
        Bloomberg  -  100 words
      • 77 21 [LONDON] Following a meeting between the foreign ministers of Spain and the UK, the two countries have affirmed Spain will allow cruise ships that have come from or plan to sail to Gibraltar to call at Spanish ports. "The Spanish Government shall allow calls
        77 words
    • 288 21 SGX 000 Nov 1 SS ♦<- Vol CH Offshore 039 unch 392 ChuanHup 0.66 -0.01 1781 Ccsco Corporation .1.04 -0.01 3709 CWT Distribution 0.56 0.01 520 EzraHldgs 1.15 -0.03 282 Freight Unks 0.10 undi 1298 Grand Banks Yacht 0.83 unch 6 Jaya Holdings ....1.03 unth 2618 K1 Venture
      288 words
    • 425 21 Bloomberg [OSLO] Oil tanker freight rates from the Persian Gulf may change little this week as bookings slow after refiners matched November cargoes with transport and await their December programme, which is due in coming days. Shipowners "remain very optimistic for the
      Bloomberg  -  425 words
    • 366 21 [SINGAPORE] Norwegian, shipping group Wilh Wilhelmsen ASA made a nine-month pre-tax profit of US$lO5 million against US$5l million for 2003. Wilhelmsen, which has recently decided to merge its Barwil and Barber International shipping services operations, said all of its activities produced positive results and the
      366 words
    • 679 21  -  They may opt for higher inventory levels, off-season shipments, says Merrill Lynch Reports by DONALD URQUHART [SINGAPORE] Efforts by container lines to push transpacific freight rates higher next year will be hindered by the continuing US West Coast port congestion,
      BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO; Source: Clarlson (since '05),ABN Amrp('05)  -  679 words
    • 252 21 [SINGAPORE] A rapidly narrowing gap between demand and supply growth next year, along with global leading economic indicators pointing to a slowdown, will mean limited opportunities for further rate hikes, according to analysts. Although industry research group Clarkson Research raised its container
      252 words
  • Page 21 Advertisements
    • 675 21 Far Eastern Freight Conference (FEFC) Business Plan 2005 CEOs of the FEFC met in Dubai on 15th September 2004 for a regular review of the trade. During this meeting the FEFC Business Plan for 2005 was discussed. Figures for the year to date January to July 2004 show that there
      675 words

  • EDITORIAL & OPINION
    • 550 22 EDITORIAL INTEREST-RATE hikes are not usually welcomed, but when two of Asia's largest economies China and India raised interest rates last week, it was actually cause for some optimism. To be sure, China's surprise move to increase interest rates for the first time in nine
      550 words
    • Article, Illustration
      1135 22  - The EU Parliament has grown in stature after forcing the incoming EC chief to change his executive team SHADA ISLAM Brussels Correspondent LONG derided as little more than a rubber stamp assembly with no real clout, the European Union Parliament flexed its muscles last week and plunged the 25-nation bloc
      REUTERS  -  1,135 words
    • 739 22  -  THE BOTTOM LINE ROBERT SAMUELSON The Washington Post Writers Group IN his 1963 book, The Deadlock of Democracy, historian James MacGregor Burns complained of too much fragmentation in American politics. Presidents couldn't enact their programmes because it was too hard to assemble
      The Washington Post Writers Group  -  739 words
    • 852 23  -  Among them is an appeal to governments in the region to get serious about their debt positions; this advice is most needed for India WILLIAM PESEK JR Bloomberg SIX or so years after the Asian crisis, it can't be much fun working for the International
      Bloomberg; AFP  -  852 words
    • 216 23  -  Tan Kok Tim Singapore DO we have too much legislation to dictate basic courtesy in Singapore? Are we ready to rescind laws, for example, on littering and illegal parking in "disabled" lots? Such laws have been with us for decades and have become
      216 words
    • 630 23  -  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Ong Kwee Cheng (Mdm) Executive Chairman Craft Print International Ltd WE REFER to the letter, "Don't let related parties help set directors' pay", by Tan Bien Chuan of OWWS Limited (BT, Oct 26). In the interest of fairness to Craft
      630 words
    • 217 23  -  Ho Swee Huat Singapore I REFER to the report on the demise of the Far Eastern Economic Review (BT, Oct 29). I am not at all surprised. If there is a surprise, it is this: it took so long. Since Dow
      217 words

  • Page 23 Advertisements
    • 100 23 Fax your letters to 6319-8277 or email them to btltttefQsph.cofii.sg or write to: The Business Times, SPN HQ, 1000 Toa Payoh North, Podium Level 3, Singapore *****4. We need your full name, address and telephone number for verification. Please use temperate language, and bear in mind libel laws. We reserve
      100 words
  • Page 23 Miscellaneous
    • 189 23 CRYPTIC CROSSWORD aftXMit 30 Flat-quarters for one-time US ,r n .mm. statesman (6) 14 Fish that's a food for cows in a YESTERDAY S SOLUTION 31 Colours models (9) Hiebridean isle (9) Across: 1 Scamper, 5 Forages, 9 rtrkufiu Every one included in the list o u tpost, 10 Ingrate,
      189 words

  • 3778 24 STRAITS TIMES INDEX STOCKS Stodm— Wt Ow Oin Stodi mint m Ckw Own* Allgreen 50c 0.30 1.040 *0.010 NOL 2.15 2.950 -0.020 BIL Intl US20c 0.45 0.950 -0.030 OCBC 10.37 13.500 -0.300 Capita Land 1.25 1.840 -0.010 Parkway H 25c 0.68 1430 Chart SemiCond 26c 0.78 1.010 People
    3,778 words

  • 2741 25 FINANCE COMMODITIES MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL INDICES tatacrfovr tan MUSS %dy %y» *i<ir «»y *yr 00 29 tad«. Oi»oq< Ovjnq# Q>«ng« Omig» Ow>g« Chtwg* World ind« Pteliiwnary 79fU 02 U 4U |j 02 33 !MM*i Hli -04 43 -03 16 41 5.7 Europe Preliminary 1QQ6.8 -0.4 3.9 -03 36 -0.4
    2,741 words

  • Page 26 Advertisements
    • 1524 26 I IMPORT ~~1 NORTH AMERICA AUSTRAUA/NEW ZEALAND I |3UPEBaHUmEEXPBESS[SSX) I I PCO WDUOVD SQUIHUirTOM OSW4I 10/10 03/11 OOW VLL—S™ QOaMHCaO MW42 17/10 13/n OWT mm > ""I »„<> 27/10 14/n io/ii rwmiiorouiUM o» on 01/11 o»/n os/11 00/11 14/11 14/11 J AM ENMfM 12N 06/11 M/ 11 10/11 12/11 M/ll
      1,524 words
    • 814 26 IINTIKAfUKOHOMKVKa vßsa/vor mtqct) i ibghtw to rat ia sm xr STIAITSVENTURE/M IS 3J 21/10 31/10 04/11 07/11 01/11 SIVAfTS VENTURE /IS 15 3.2 11/11 14/11 11/11 11/11 23/11 [STRAITS VENTURE/14 15 I 3.? 25/11 27/11 02/12 05/12 07/12 IWISTAfiA/ItNOAtIOHOIVf 4 vKsa/vor umntd hbohtw tok in khh mm. sm kg hcw
      814 words

  • Page 27 Advertisements
    • 824 27 a range of shipping modes to ensure timely, a>vering major porh in North America, Europe, Japan, Asia, Afcfco Ob>omo. Abo krir>-Aria OofMS tK mtiM fwmrwup /mnuH /nun /hkma /ifIIWIM mm For Schedules, BL Searches, and Container Tracking, visit on our Home Page: www.mol»in.cem^»Q^^ www.hamburiisuj.com Hamburc^^Sud asat sawa troon .sahswvia(t»ro«T) »~*i
      824 words
    • 1223 27 HHTFMD Him 2/11 JZIJ_JZU__= PERTH BKIPGE 066 A IMF 6/H1 GOiDEN GATE 433W 9/11 10/11 12/11 NEW DYNAMIC OZ3* -ML 13/11 GOLDEN TRADE 41 OH 14/11 17/11 If/11 "-I 1 r~| PERTH BRIDGE 7A 18/11 20/11 UtegHC-Mrt-Stiow *VSI o*m boiti North 8 West port VESSEL VOY PKG SIN HKG SHA
      1,223 words
    • 914 27 w WEEKLY EXPRESS SAIUMG SCHEDULE ALSO ACCEPTING TO ALL NORTHERN AND WESTERN ICD POINTS Visa VOY SM MmtcltOUHMO HSWVA COUMMO lAIIY6AIIDHI OM7W 02 NOV OMIT 07 MOV 10 WW 13 WQV UIWKI 003W WNOV OMIT 13NOV 16WOV UNOV AUSTIAIIA HID6t 00IIW 15 WQV 17 NOV 20 NOV UM HOY KOttPHWm
      914 words

  • Page 28 Advertisements
    • 763 28 IJUUII WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN website: http://www.2wglobal.com VBSB |»0T IMf IK "I*o~ HOU» "juT" SAV Mi OU NYC NOW MOO TAUSMAN AM22 3201ns 6JM I 14/TT" 10/12 27/12 20/12 02/11 31/12 04/01 24/12 ttRONGA AM23 3201 ms 6.25 M I 30/11 2S/12 04/01 11/01 12/01 14/01 14/01 11/01 00/01 IMKSIS |*M 24
      763 words
    • 636 28 B 3BH ai COL_ -HSSL Ml an MT CSF23OI 0052 Q»/11 MMIMTO 7 W2O 03/11 os/11 pacoanpa imw 05/11 os/n rtt-raii UZ2 u/ii at/n PACMMOA 1334N 04/11 07/11 fitliiJ IUS 04/11 04/11 Of 2301 0053P 07/11 00/11 AUMJATA2 OWI 00/11 M/ll CSf 2301 JSStf 52/11 10/11 PMIAMOA mol> o</ll Of/II
      636 words
    • 9 28 KEEP ABREAST OF MARITIME LEGAL MATTERS IN EVERY FRIDAY
      9 words
    • 570 28 BSA jl '''•Erf e T!=HnSSW!T5 l 3iSfB?s^^^ MYANMA n FIVE STAR UNE (Mvmnmt NotioMl Um) wfc| far Ym|m VKSa VOT SIN Ptt PEN PGU PAGAN 336W 05/11 31/10 HPA-AN 326W SID IN MALAYSIA: OOUSTEAD SHIPPING AGINCIIS Kill/PKL 03-*****300 PEN: 04-2****** fli ACCEPTUW COWVEBTIQMAL CBO HKG SM WG SM PGU PIL
      570 words

  • THE BUSINESS TIMES SHIPPING TIMES
  • Page 29 Advertisements
    • 71 29 TUVALU SHIP REGISTRY m QJJALITY SERVICE llii r*** 4 w. Round the clock service Staffed by qualified professionals with many years of experience m ship registration Wide network of surveyors I classification societies No restriction on nationality of ownership Accedes to latest international conventions regulations Low taxes Tuvalu Ship Registry
      71 words

  • PROPERTY
    • 637 30  -  Consultants expect robust economy and growing demand to support prices, reports VINCE CHONG VINCE CHONG Singaporeans may find it more opportune to cash in on existing London properties than to buy one at this time, considering that the pound sterling has strengthened against the Sing
      BLOOMBERG  -  637 words
    • 150 32 SAIL@MARINA Bay sold 125 units or "more than 50 per cent" of the 250 units released over the weekend when the project was soft launched at $900 per square foot. Prices at the downtown 99-year leasehold project are expected to climb
      150 words
    • 618 32  -  CEO too sells properties, at double the price he paid in 2000, reports VINCE CHONG VINCE CHONG FREIGHT Links Express Holdings Ltd (FLEH) CEO Eric Khua can just hear the jackpot ringing, now that some of his personal industrial properties acquired four years
      CHRIS LOH  -  618 words
    • 984 32  -  It is eyeing at least one real estate investment trust listing a year over the next four to five years, reports ANDREA TAN ANDREA TAN HONG KONG tycoon Li Ka-shing's ARA Asset Management wants to be one of the largest
      FILE PHOTO  -  984 words
  • Page 30 Advertisements
    • 554 30 I Offers are invited for two extremely attractive H properties on Queensland's rapidly-growing 1 Fraser Coast. Both properties are: Centrally located in the heart of their I respective city's thriving business precincts; j| Able to offer excellent investment potential 1 and a strong rate of return; I Tenanted by major
      554 words

  • Page 31 Advertisements
    • 1628 31 DATAPULSE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED (Incorporated In The Republic Of Singapore) Company Registration No. *****2677 D NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Twenty-Fourth Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Level 4 Canary Room, 392 Havelock Road, Singapore *****3 on
      1,628 words
    • 551 31 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, CAP. 50 AND IN THE MATTER OF K S INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD Company Registration No. *****1637E (In Member's Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE OF RESOLUTIONS (Pursuant to Section 290(2Mb)] An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company deemed to have been convened pursuant lo Section 179(6)
      551 words
    • 688 31 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, CAP. SO AND IN THE MATTER OF SUNTEKZ TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. (Company Registration No: 2M3024MQ) <i. M--.L,' ||nlimt,ru I laiiliialliMt 111 WwlilWi# vUIUIVUIij Lll| IfIH ■11 l/fi f At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the abovenamed Company duly convened
      688 words
    • 2045 31 m DATAPULSE TECHNOLOGY DATAPULSE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) Company Registration No. *****2677 D NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of Datapulse Technology Limited (the "Company") will be held at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Level 4 Canary Room, 392
      2,045 words
    • 199 31 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT, CAP. 50 AND IN THE MATTER OF SINGRAMA PROPERTY PRIVATE LIMITED (IN MEMBERS' VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION) Company lUg No.: *****1399 M NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 308( 1) of the Companies Act, Cap. 50, that a Final Meoting of the Members of
      199 words
    • 384 31 G A W GROUP (HOLDINGS) LIMITED (Incorporated in the Republic of Singapore) Company Registration No. *****0550E NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an General Meeting (*EGM*) of the shareholders of G 4 W GROUP (HOLDINGS) LIMITED (the "Company*) will be held at Oxford Hotel, 218 Queen
      384 words

  • Page 32 Advertisements
    • 77 32 ?9HHHRK ■te^^^flß| ai |^j|M S-^ysEigMl^^^^^Wlli^M^B >•* -j? "•f^T'^SHH^^HHHfll^EjPEtV^^^^^l^Hi ji i i MSS y Dim*■ "-<"*?* i j4 1 I Orchard Road Vicinity Site For Sale 77 •&££/<>ZZZ 3 minutes walk to M //L /i/S*- Orchard Road s \NvssS' 55=1 A PP rox 29'078 SQ ft Plot ratio 2.8 Height control
      77 words
    • 42 32 Hin Seng Garden For Sale By Tender OEZS&°**'« •Approximately237,ooosqft m o\r -Plotratio 1.6 rt'" •Upto 12 storeys c A s Easy access via AYE and k* olose to educational institutions and amenities ■H mm, a tl Tel: 6224 8181 CB RICHARD ELLIS
      42 words
    • 47 32 FACTORY IN GUL VICINITY FOR SALE LEASE 3 blocks of purpose-built factory with mezz office Tenure Remaining 14 yrs Land Area Approx. 355,000 sq ft GFA Approx. 184,500 sq ft Sol* Marketing Ag*nt Bernard Goh: 6326 1232 9760 9252 CBRF 6 Battery Road #32-01 Singapore *****9 c,
      47 words