The Business Times, 1 October 2005

Lock icon This issue may only be viewed from the multimedia stations at NLB Libraries. See FAQ for more information.

Total Pages: 20
1 20 The Business Times
  • 19 1 THE BUSINESS TIMES weekend SINGAPORE 85 cents MICA (P) 089^03/2005 October 1-2, 2005 online at http/lxisiness-times asial com sg
    19 words
  • 714 1  -  MALAYSIAN BUDGET Critics knock handouts, but there are pro-business measures By S JAYASANKARAN in Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi yesterday announced a mildly expansionary 2006 Budget of RM 136.8 billion (5561.3 billion), up 5 per cent from last year. And as part
    714 words
  • 798 1  -  ARTSingapore organisers expect sales to double to $3 million this year By ARTHUR SIM [SINGAPORE] It may seem vulgar to some, but art is becoming big business here. The organisers of Singapore's premier arts fair, ARTSingapore, reckon this year's event could see sales of
    798 words
  • Page 1 Advertisements
    • 88 1 rpH p gl SINGAPORE 85 cents fc. r_ class re *t ?-#y. MORE REPORTS M'sia to speed up visa issues PG4 Agro-biotech, tourism among new drivers of economy PG 4 We're 29 Ye* The Business Times has just turned 29. Together with Spinelli Coffee, we have a birthday treat for
      88 words
    • 92 1 RAFFLES CONVERSATION Amex boss Kenneth Chenault redefines meaning of service gjphj < a ;J. a»U aa»v v -I war*. A. -'W'' < v V"* i. It > v- V Breguet. La passion laissa das tracas. Marine wristwatch in steel Self-winding movement with large, instant-change date calendar Silvered /yy//3!/^^) gold dial,
      92 words
    • 12 1 RAFFLES TOWN CLUB Letters of demand served on 5 ex-members PG9 u&Sts
      12 words

  • TOP STORIES
    • 360 2 Government due to announce size of increases [JAKARTA] Riot police fired tear gas yesterday at rockthrowing students who were among thousands demonstrating on the eve of drastic fuel price increases, which Indonesia's president defended as the only way to stave off
      360 words
    • 238 2 Calling timepiece aficionados! To celebrate our 29th anniversary The Business Times is giving away five copies of the limited-ecßtion Gtrard-Ferregaux Collectors' Book, courtesy of Girard-Perregaux. A well-written book attesting to an outstanding level of savoir-fiure in the world of haute horlogerie, this collectors' item is not
      238 words
    • 495 2 Optus eyes Virgin's stake in their joint venture: report FACED with flagging growth, Singapore Telecom's Australian unit, Optus, is reported to be in talks to buy British maverick Richard Branson's 75 per cent stake in their Virgin Mobile venture. According to The Australian, the two groups have been
      495 words
    • 328 2  -  By UMA SHANKARI [SINGAPORE] Your favourite business newspaper celebrates its 29th birthday today. And The Business Times has certainly come a long way since its first edition on Oct 1,1976. Today, 72 reporters, editors, subeditors, photographers, artists and support staff toil
      328 words
    • 385 2 Source: The Driving the world economy Every day, Americans use the equivalent of nine million barrels of crude oil in the form of gasoline tofuelthfeUS fleet of 226 million cars and light trucks. We wonder These nine mWon barrels of oil equal the total oil consumption for the entire
      Source: The  -  385 words
    • 42 2 In the article "POSB launches credit card for the masses" (BT, Sept 30), we said Edmund Koh hopes that 800,000 POSB Everyday Cards will be issued in the first year. The figure should be 80,000. We are sorry for the error.
      42 words
  • Page 2 Advertisements
    • 357 2 A Day in the BT Newsroom J/ GIRARD-PERREGACIX I f r> Mtym Christopher Loh, 61, Chief Photographer Jjj^/■ EXPECTING the unexpected various sections, and range from the almost all of them want to look good. A lot if is part of a day's work, even arts and dining out to
      357 words
    • 20 2 Find the most comprehensive range of products and services in The Straits Times Classified. Buy It Sal IL FM It
      20 words

  • RAFFLES CONVERSATION
    • 1615 3  -  The head of the financial services company tells GENEVIEVE CUA how they make their customers feel very special GENEVIEVE CUA FACED with disaster, American Express likes to think it knows what to do. This commitment came to the aid of its card-hold-ing members at the time
      1,615 words
    • 799 3 KENNETH Chenault says that when he was growing up he never dreamed that one day he would lead one of the world's largest financial services companies. He did, however, feel that he wanted to make a difference. Today, thanks to the magic he has wrought on
      YEN MENG SEN  -  799 words
  • Page 3 Advertisements
    • 5 3 J v %X;** V i
      5 words
    • 61 3 Raffle?* INTERNATIONAL Hotels Resorts The Raffles Conversation is brought to you through a special arrangement with Raffles International Hotels and Resorts. The Traveller's Palm in the Raffles International logo is an apt symbol. Not only has water stored at the base of this palm provided sustenance, the leaves rest in
      61 words

  • FOCUS: MALAYSIA BUDGET
    • 838 4  -  Move will support Malaysia's knowledge-based, services sectors By PAULINE NG in Kuala Lumpur THE Malaysian government will expedite the issue of visas for workers needed to support the country's aspiration to become a regional hub for the services and knowledge-based sectors. It was announced
      AP  -  838 words
    • 635 4  -  By S JAYASANKARAN in Kuala Lumpur THE new drivers of Malaysia's economic growth will include agro-biotechnology and tourism. By 2020, for example, Kuala Lumpur expects biotechnology to begin to make a difference: 100 companies employing 280,000 people and contributing 5 per cent
      635 words
    • 464 4  -  By PAULINE NG in Kuala Lumpur TO take advantage of its potential in the global shared services and outsourcing (SSO) industry worth an estimated US$75O billion by next year, Malaysia intends to brand itself as a major global outsourcing hub. The government intends
      BLOOMBERG  -  464 words
  • Page 4 Advertisements
    • 101 4 4 tit DUO YUN XUAN ART AUCTIONEER'S COLLECTION OF CONSIGNMENT FOR 2005 AUMTUMN AUCTION LOONG HUA ARTS CRAFTS PTE LTD CASH PURCHASE OF CHINESE PAINTINGS We welcome all collectors who wish to consign sell their paintings and artifacts. On-site visits may be arranged for larger collections. Payments in Cash. Date
      101 words
    • 21 4 Ift Lianhe Zaobao Exclusive I I Interview I I with Zhao Ziyang's I I Wan fl Y annan I wL I
      21 words

  • COMPANY NEWS
    • 579 5  -  Waste recycler gives update following call by SGX By ALEXANDRA HO CREDITORS of Citiraya Industries have made claims of about half a billion dollars against the company, the beleaguered waste recycler said yesterday. This was revealed in a 44-page update the company
      579 words
    • COMPANY BRIEFS
      • 80 5 JURONG Cement has warned of a loss for its half-year ended Sept 30, citing problems in its China operations. In its statement yesterday, Jurong Cement said the effects of China's tight monetary policies to cool the economy turned out to be longer than expected, hitting significantly
        80 words
      • 81 5 Bloomberg SEMBCORP Marine said it sold 4.6 million shares in Cosco Corp (S) the best performing stock on the benchmark Straits Times Index this year at $2.55 each. The sale will result in an extraordinary gain of about $9.91 million for its current financial year. Net
        Bloomberg  -  81 words
      • 71 5 THE next pre-trial conference for China Aviation Oil's suspended CEO Chen Jiulin and its finance head Peter Lim has been set for Nov 10. Chen faces 15 charges in relation to the financial scandal, while Lim faces four. A separate pre-trial hearing for the three
        71 words
      • 47 5 SCORPION Offshore's wholly owned subsidiary, Scorpion Drilling, has ordered two additional LeTourneau Super 116 jackup rigs from Keppel AmFels, which is wholly owned by Keppel Corp through Keppel Offshore Marine. The contract price, excluding "owner furnished equipment", is about US$lBO million.
        47 words
      • 43 5 MAINBOARD-listed Chuan Hup Holdings said yesterday that it has completed the sale of its marine logistics business to Malaysian oil and energy company Scomi Group in a cash-cum-equity deal worth $570.6 million. The deal was first announced in February.
        43 words
      • 53 5 PETRA Foods is paying RM$4.B million (552.15 million) to acquire Sime Darby Marketing Sdn Bhd from Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd. Petra will first acquire a 70 per cent stake in Sime Darby Marketing, with the acquisition of the remaining stake to be completed in about
        53 words
      • 54 5 SINGAPOREAN icon, the 117-year-old Raffles Hotel, along with some 40 other properties under the Raffles and Swissotel brands were officially handed over yesterday to its new owner Colony Capital. The sale of Raffles Holdings' hotel network at an enterprise value of $1.72 billion to Colony
        54 words
    • 637 5  -  Optus unit may cause it to miss profit target SingTel warned By ANGELA TAN FACED with flagging growth, Singapore Telecom's Australian unit, Optus, IS reported to be in talks .to buy British maverick Richard Branson's 75 per cent stake in their Virgin Mobile joint
      BLOOMBERG  -  637 words
    • 274 5  -  By ANGELA TAN SINGAPORE Telecom's geographical spread gives it a growth edge over rivals, says business consultancy firm Frost Sullivan. "Sing Tel, with its geographical spread, has done a fairly good job in positioning itself to capture the growth," Frost Sullivan's partner and managing
      274 words
    • 293 5 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Reuters HONG KONG property development and investment firm Guoco Group, controlled by Malaysian tycoon Quek Leng Chan, yesterday raised its takeover offer for BIL International by just over 4 per cent, valuing the company at $1.71 billion. A
      Reuters  -  293 words
    • 491 5  - STI continues its 2½ -year rally the longest in 10 years STOCKS TEH HOOI LING Senior Correspondent THF Straits Times Index returned to its winning ways and ended the week \2 points higher at 2,305.14, making the current rally the longest in more than 10 years. The STI started climbing
      491 words
    • 279 5  -  By WONG WEI KONG HOME-GROWN sofa manufacturer and leather tanner HTL International Holdings yesterday announced its first major acquisition the purchase of Germany's Domicil Moebel for 19 million euros (5538.3 million). Domicil is an upmarket furnishing solutions franchisor with a network of
      279 words
    • 955 6  -  CORPORATE ANALYSIS Its 'billion-$ man' calls it luck but it does seem to have done all the right things, reports KALPANA RASHIWALA KALPANA RASHIWALA Polo Developments, has been on a land acquisition spree over the past two years, with six purchases costing about $900 million. It
      955 words
    • GRAPEVINE
      • 126 6 DAVID Gerald, the tireless president of the investors watchdog, can probably sleep easier now. Some generous friends are said to have agreed to underwrite him for the $185,000 incurred in a libel case related to the takeover of Nat Steel two years ago. Although he has
        126 words
      • 79 6 AT this week's Global Entrepolis Singapore mega-event, most delegates who attended a series of presentations had one primary need—hot coffee —that never seemed to be completely fulfilled. There were two coffee breaks and a lunch break each day, but that just didn't seem to
        79 words
    • 4516 6 UNIT TRUSTS FUNDS d«-Eu'opazins(S«q.) 93.967% Citigroup Asset Mgt AMI Amro Am) Mgt (S'pore) -—-J•«» Star Europe Eqty!" 0858/ Cm Asia Infrastructure 0.7726/0 8035 Star Europe Bond 1.243/ Cib Japan —-J Star Europe Bal 1166/ CihBond S pore A/$ 129/ Star Asian Tiger Eqty 1X183/ CrtiBond S pore B/J 1341/ Star
      4,516 words
  • Page 5 Advertisements
    • 60 5 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF LIQUIDATOR WUTHELAM INDOCHINA LIMITED NOTICE is hereby given that liquidation of the above Company commenced on 15 September 2005, and that Tan Kim Noi Catherine of Blk 545 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #12-2268, Singapore *****5, has been appointed liquidator of the Company. Dated this 15th
      60 words

  • Page 6 Advertisements
    • 37 6 PIMCO Total Return Bond Fund Winner of the Mornmgstar Asia I unci Managei ot the Year 2004 AlliatlZ (jU) for North America Fixed Income and rated 5-star by Mercer Investment Consulting. Global investors (li'.'li III) I't'HO/Iti 1
      37 words

  • BT INVESTMENT ROUNDTABLE
    • 2957 7 OVERVIEW SINCE the early 1980s, the Monetary Authority of Singapore has fine-tuned the tradeweighted value of the Singapore dollar (SSNEER) as the main tool of its monetary policy. Since April last year it has conducted this policy based on a modest and gradual appreciation
      2,957 words

  • PERSONAL INVESTMENT
    • Article, Illustration
      887 8  -  Compiled by UMA SHANKARI Fraser Neave Ltd Sept 30 close: $17.20 KIM ENG SECURITIES, Sept 30 OUR recent conversation with the company has helped us in getting a clearer picture of the much-talked-about restructuring of the F&N group assets and businesses. The market has been eagerly waiting for
      Source: Bloomberg  -  887 words
    • 1078 8  -  SHOW ME THE MONEY Of the BT portfolios tracked since 2003, only the lowest PTB one is outpacing the ST Index TEH HOOI LING Senior Correspondent WHAT do LC Development, Hong Fok, Orchard Parade, Ho Bee and Ascott have in common? The obvious link
      Source: Bloomberg  -  1,078 words
    • 1076 8 For week beginning Sep 26 SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDER/DIRECTOR TRANSACTIONS Subsantial Buv No of Prk» SHAREHOLDING Trans Shareholder/ Sell Shares Per Mora After Stock Date Director Conv '000 Shr ('000) C000) Micro-Mechanics 29-Sep-05 Christopher R. Borch Buy 800 na ***** 32.19 ***** 31.47 Unisteel 29-Sep-05 Lee Joo Hai
      1,076 words
  • Page 8 Advertisements
    • 41 8 Insiders 1 11ados. I Brokers' rocommendations. I Dividend Libit'. I 1 ho pages also covoi I 11 ansa*. t ions by I director s and I substantul I shai oholdor s. |g In other woids, Jgljl nows you use. HHb MB
      41 words

  • SINGAPORE NEWS
    • 589 9  -  Jurong Island facility larger than Swiss company's China plant By CHEN HUIFEN SWISS chemical company Ciba Specialty Chemicals is investing 125 million Swiss francs (S$ 163 million) in Singapore to produce antioxidants ingredients to slow down the ageing process in plastics.
      ARTHUR LEE  -  589 words
    • 445 9  -  By GENEVIEVE CUA TWO banks introduced no-load unit trust investment schemes this week,, offering Singaporeans some fresh options on how they want to invest. The catch is that the schemes effectively charge higher annual management fees. In offshore jurisdictions, fund managers register funds
      445 words
    • 196 9 THE functions of building control units of statutory boards like the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Housing Development Board (HDB) and JTC Corporation are to be centralised under the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) from today. The move is intended to maintain
      196 words
    • 307 9  -  By MATTHEW PHAN SMALL businesses can benefit from good corporate governance but may not benefit from adopting the complete policy structures of larger companies, Kurt Wee, co-chairman of the Association for Small and Medium Enterprises, said yesterday. Good governance includes risk management, a
      307 words
    • SINGAPORE ROUNDUP
      • 77 9 INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund chief economist Raghuram Rajan will highlight developments in the US, the role of oil prices, and prospects for the global economy at an address to a Singapore Press Club lunch on Oct 5. The Fund's Asian Department deputy Wanda Tseng will focus
        77 words
      • 53 9 A TEAM from the Nanyang Technological University has developed the technology for a new type of micro fuel cells suitable for low cost mass production. This could result in cost savings for manufacturers and their end consumers. The environmentally friendly cells are twice as durable
        53 words
      • 84 9 THE Ministry of Finance has accepted eight out of 25 suggestions to amend the draft GST (Amendment) Bill 2005. They were received during a consultation exercise from Jul 8 to Aug 5 on how proposed changes to the GST legislation could be improved for greater
        84 words
    • 505 9  -  Amount is net of court damages awarded to them By NANDE KHIN RAFFLES Town Club (RTC) has served letters of demand on five members of the Rafflessooo committee, including committee chairman Alan Lee, calling for the payment of some $25,000 in subscription and other
      505 words
    • 158 9 CENTREPOINT Properties has just a few unsold units at its 116-unit The Azure condo on Sentosa Cove. And it is believed to have raised prices a further 5 per cent yesterday, even though the remnant units don't have the
      158 words
  • Page 9 Advertisements
    • 92 9 Vrrz?.' ?v r I I I It's our 29th Anniversary f Wave coffee on or to<Jtay I I 1—- ul The first 29 readers to present this copy of The Business Times at any of the Mowing Spinel# outlets will receive a medum espresso beverage (single shot) of your choice
      92 words

  • MALAYSIA
    • 526 10 Saw irregularities as PM but couldn't do a thing as he was misled AP [KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's former leader, Mahathir Mohamad, has accused the trade ministry of involvement in an alleged scam to import foreign cars by paying low customs duties. Dr Mahathir,
      AP; REUTERS FILE PHOTO  -  526 words
    • 7774 10 Transaction date: Sep 30 52-Wk Td Last Vol Day Last Quote GrDtv Mr GrVM Nat MCap High Low Coda Company Sala COOP) High Low tuyar S+m Cw W Wl 10 2 5716 1st Software 5c S.....3 unch 820 3.5 3 3 3.5 12.1 28.5 8 5 3148 8TelecomUS2c
      7,774 words
    • 218 10 Reuters [KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's Bumiputra Commerce Bank said on Thursday it would auction properties, cars and other assets worth RM3.4 billion (Ssl.s billion) to help recover nonperforming loans (NPLs). Bumi Commerce is cleaning up its bad debts as its parent company,
      Reuters  -  218 words
    • NOTE BOOK
      • 56 10 AFP [VIENTIANE] Bilateral trade between China and the 10-nation Asean bloc soared 25 per cent to U5559.76 billion in the first half 0f2005 amid ongoing reductions in tariffs, officials said yesterday. The figures were released on the sidelines of an Association of South East Asian
        AFP  -  56 words
      • 73 10 AFP [BEIJING] China is spreading the net wider in its fight against money laundering, now aiming to cover not just banking but also other financial sectors such as insurance and securities, state media said yesterday. The efforts, which seem mainly to target corrupt officials seeking to
        AFP  -  73 words
      • 56 10 Reuters [KUALA LUMPURJ Malaysian car maker Proton Holdings Bhd denied on Thursday a newspaper report that it was considering a capital repayment. The Star had said that Proton, which has RM2.51 (551.13) a share in net cash, may return excess capital to its shareholders before teaming
        Reuters  -  56 words
      • 73 10 AP [NEW DELHI! Federal investigators yesterday raided the homes and offices of more than 50 senior government officials in a nationwide anti-corruption drive, a news report said. Nearly 2,000 inspectors from the Central Bureau of Investigation were involved in the raids in 90 cities and towns
        AP  -  73 words

  • INDONESIA
    • 483 11 Deal, said to be below US$2O million, is politically delicate IHT [HONG KONG] Star TV, Rupert Murdoch's Asian broadcaster, acquired a strategic stake in an Indonesian television network on Thursday, securing a place in one of Asia's fast-est-growing markets, the two companies said.
      IHT  -  483 words
    • 114 11 Reuters [JAKARTA] Indonesia plans to sell an 8 per cent stake in the country's fourth-largest lender, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), later this year, State Enterprises Minister Sugiharto told reporters yesterday. The stake sale, which could be worth some 2.5
      Reuters  -  114 words
    • 6775 11 Transaction Date: Sep 30 MOST ACTIVE STOCKS VOLUME VALUE (S) GlobalVoice 5c 5S.584.000 PBSGrp 86,944.040 BILIntl US20c 32,912.000 SingTel 15c 74.111.180 SinqTeHSc 30.344.000 UOB 50.127.300 Biosensors USOOIc 29.510.000 BILIntl US20c 41.013.550 BiosensorMBLeCW***** 26.661.000 Biosensors USO OIc 39,136.090 Celestial USfic 21.169.000 OCBCBkSOc 38.959.954 Auston 1c 16,806.000 SI A 50c 32.992.949
      6,775 words

  • GREATER CHINA/INDIA
    • 608 12 India economic growth in Q1 revs up to 8.1 Borrowing costs at 30-year lows, rising wages fuel consumer spending Bloomberg [NEW DELHI] India's economy expanded at the fastest pace in more than a year in the first quarter, as companies including Mahindra Mahindra Ltd increased production to meet rising orders.
      Bloomberg; BLOOMBERG  -  608 words
    • 365 12 Bloomberg [WASHINGTON] Lending to China's real estate market may spawn as much as 525 billion yuan (Ssllo billion) in new bad loans at Chinese banks, Ernst Young LLP said. The debt would consist of "special-mention loans", in which borrowers can be
      Bloomberg  -  365 words
    • 2370 12 VOL General Corp .0.40 urxti 210 Sep 30 m COOP) Genting .21.40 0.30 898 George Kent .0.63 unch 97 ASM Realty 1.55 0.10 42 GHL Systems .0.12 unch 428 Abric 0.32 -0.01 20 Globetronics Tech 0.31 -0.01 1618 ACP Industries 0.62 0.01 203 GlomacBhd 1.29 unch 150 Advance
      2,370 words
    • 474 12 Marketplace is littered with losses and foul-ups Reuters [BEIJING] Private equity investors are flocking to China, but sudden rule changes, homegrown competition and difficulties in cashing out make for a tough market. Private equity firms which typically buy companies on
      Reuters  -  474 words
    • 215 12 AP [NEW DELHI] Satellite television channels in India are paying top dollar for the rights to Bollywood movies, sometimes even showing the films before they've reached the cinemas, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. Channels like £ony Entertainment, Star TV and Sahara have
      AP  -  215 words
    • 352 12 Reuters [NEW DELHI] India, best known on the world tourist map as the home of the Taj Mahal, is now marketing its villages as exotic holiday destinations where tourists can draw water from a well and churn butter in earthen pots. More than 50 villages
      Reuters  -  352 words

  • ASIA-PACIFIC/WORLD
    • 562 13  -  Aircraft suitable for 4-5 hour flight range, says company official By VEN SREENIVASAN BOEING is pitching its new 787 Dreamliner to legacy airlines and low-cost carriers. The company's vicepresident and general manager for the 787 programme, Michael Bair, said yesterday the plane would
      562 words
    • WORLD WATCH
      • 62 13 Bloomberg [NEW YORK] Micron Technology, the largest US maker of computer memory chips, reported an unexpected fourth-quarter profit as the company sold more flash memory and products for digital cameras. Net income fell to US$43.l million in the period ended Sept 1 from U5593.5
        Bloomberg  -  62 words
      • 67 13 AFP I BANGKOK] Thailand posted its second straight monthly current account surplus in August at US$lO7 million, reflecting a slight slowdown in imports and a pick-up in exports, the central bank said yesterday. This followed a US$l69 million current account surplus in July and was
        AFP  -  67 words
      • 73 13 Bloomberg j [TOKYO] Wal-Mart Stores will raise its stake in unprofitable Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu Ltd, taking control of a company that reported net losses in the past two years. The world's largest retailer will pay as much as 67.5 billion yen (Ssl billion)
        Bloomberg  -  73 words
      • 82 13 Reuters [LONDON] Britain's Tesco and France's Carrefour have agreed to a store swap deal that will see both retailers exit countries in which they have low market shares to boost positions of strength elsewhere. Britain's biggest retailer said yesterday it would hand over
        Reuters  -  82 words
      • 73 13 Reuters [TOKYO] Japan's nationwide core consumer price index (CPI) was down 0.1 per cent in August from a year earlier, showing mild deflation persisted in the world's second-largest economy despite rising oil prices. The figure compared with economists' median forecast of a 0.1
        Reuters  -  73 words
      • 64 13 Reuters [WASHINGTON] John Roberts, a 50-year-old conservative, was sworn in on Thursday as the 17th chief justice of the United States. Mr Roberts took the oath as the youngest chief justice in two centuries just hours after the Republican-led Senate confirmed him with significant
        Reuters  -  64 words
      • 56 13 Mercedes to recall around 50 ,000 cars AP [FRANKFURT] DaimlerChrysler AG said yesterday that its Mercedes Car Group was recalling some 50,000 cars because of a potential problem with the windshield wipers. The recall includes Vaneo models built between April 2002 and March 2003, as well as A-Class models built
        AP  -  56 words
    • 333 13 LATEST US DATA Reuters AP Bloomberg [WASHINGTON] US consumer confidence plunged by the most in 25 years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the Gulf Coast and pushed gasoline prices to record highs, raising concern that spending may falter. The University
      Reuters; AP; Bloomberg  -  333 words
    • 344 13 Reuters AP [TOKYO] Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi violated Japan's Constitution by visiting a Shinto shrine for war dead, a court ruled yesterday, but analysts said the ruling would not stop him from continuing the annual pilgrimages that have angered China and South Korea.
      Reuters; AP; REUTERS  -  344 words
    • 423 13 Reuters [NEW YORKI Many executives say their employees are their greatest asset, but some are starting to mean it as the baby-boom generation approaches retirement age. As a shortage of skilled workers looms in areas like maintenance and sales, an increasing number of
      Reuters  -  423 words
    • 611 13 Reuters AP [TOKYO] When Japanese banks Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group and UFJ Holdings announced late last year their ambition to become one of the world's five most valuable financial companies by 2009. many analysts scoffed. The country's secondand fourth-biggest banking groups weren't even in
      Reuters; AP  -  611 words
    • 278 13 [SEOULI The National Tax Service has slapped a combined 214.8 billion won (Ss3so million) in taxes on five foreign funds including Lone Star and Carlyle Group, a move that the Financial Times says has sparked concerns about rising anti-foreign sentiment. The NTS move comes
      278 words

  • WORLD
    • 435 14 Firm says it is committed to maintaining trust of public and clients [NEW YORK] US regulators on Thursday criticised the audit work of KPMG, the big four accounting firm that is fighting to restore its reputation after admitting to selling fraudulent tax avoidance
      435 words
    • 781 14  -  By ANTHONY ROWLEY in Tokyo IT HAD been some time (several years in fact) since I had one of those "virtual conversations" with Alan Greenspan, so I thought I had better give him a call. After all, he's only going to be in the
      781 words
    • 495 14 AP [NEW YORK] The founder and the chief financial officer of a beleaguered hedge fund pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges on Thursday for their roles in a scandal that allegedly cost investors millions of dollars. Samuel Israel, the founder, and Daniel
      AP; REUTERS  -  495 words
    • 306 14 NYT [NEW YORK] The accounting firm KPMG and a law firm have agreed to pay US$l95 million to as many as 280 wealthy investors who bought four types of questionable shelters, the first major step by the two firms to deal with
      NYT  -  306 words
    • 225 14 AP [SAN FRANCISCO] A Silicon Valley technology company is suing Yahoo Inc for allegedly stealing trade secrets by hiring away 13 key engineers who had nearly completed its interactive speech technology project. Nuance Communications was planning to ask a Santa Clara County judge
      AP  -  225 words
    • 467 14 Largest gainer rose 39.4%, biggest fall was almost 10% Reuters [NEW YORK] In a busy day for US initial public offerings, investors gave six new issues a mixed reception on Thursday, with one deal gaining as much as 39 per cent while another
      Reuters  -  467 words

  • MOTORING
    • Article, Illustration
      1031 15  -  In terms of comfort, gravitas and megastar status, it's unlikely the S-Class will be dethroned anytime soon, says SAMUEL EE SAMUEL EE T WAS as cool and confident as its handlers were fiercely protective. The new Mercedes-Benz SClass looked, well, classy in St Moritz, accompanied by an elaborate
      1,031 words
    • 255 15 FOR the past 50 years, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has gained a reputation not just for supreme ride comfort but also for setting new active and passive safety standards, like the Pre-Safe preventive occupant protection system, 'fhfs latest model is no different. Apart from
      255 words
    • 222 15  -  By SAMUEL EE PROBABLY the most attractive feature for many prospective buyers of the new Hyundai Azera is not so much its brand new design but its price. Authorised distributor Komoco Motors will launch the replacement of the Grandeur XG saloon next Friday at
      222 words
    • 298 15  -  By WILLIAM WHEY AS a comfort tyre with per-formance-oriented features, the ContiPremiumContact is well-known for its good grip and low noise. Its successor, the ContiPremium Contact 2, continues to offer these qualities, with the addition of a unique 3D groove to improve power transmission and cut
      298 words

  • GOLF
    • 1157 16  -  As the debate over Tiger Woods' change of techniques refuses to die down, JUSTINE MOSS weighs the pros and cons of changing swings JUSTINE MOSS A CHANGE of golf swing among most professionals and semi-professionals barely rustles up a flurry of interest among followers
      AFP, REUTERS  -  1,157 words
  • Page 16 Advertisements
    • 442 16 wine&dine withweekendßT Buffet lunch available on weekends and public holidays. For J birthdays, registration of marriages or baby's full-month celebrations, you get alO per cent discount Price: $16.80+++ (adult), $11.80+++ (chik#. Grand Hyatt Singapore 10 Scotta Road. Tel: *****114 Tfjgj ft- iil fr r m—) r n to afe iMiMUkki
      442 words
    • 147 16 Music Dreamer Uvel 36 CctfeMarina Square #02-308,, Tel: *****033 Enjoy a variety of drinks and snacks while chilling out over live music Exclusively for Diners dub Cardmembers: 1 -for-1 waiver off cover charge (includes one complinwilary drink). Orchard Hotel 442 Orchard Rd. Tel: 6739 6554 All-you-can-eat drunken live prawns and
      147 words
    • 137 16 I Plaza Market Cafe Level 2, Raffles The Plaza. TeL *****156 Reltw^ Sketches Pasta ft Wine Bar Parco Bugis Junction *01-85/86/87, Tel: *****386 Robertson Walk *01-14/15, TeL *****448 Cm/IB a pasta and pizza to your own taste. Btdusmly far Dims I dub card! members 20% rfecount off food fam 12pm
      137 words

  • WELLNESS
    • 688 17  -  Students at S'pore Polytechnic concoct praline that helps digestion, reports NGIAM YING LAN NGIAM YING LAN LOOKING at how nutritionally enhanced food like iron-forti-fied milk and protein bars are still going strong in the market, one can hardly believe that it has been 70 years
      CHRIS LOH  -  688 words
    • 684 17  -  Expert says up to US$12b available for investment, reports JUDY CHAPMAN JUDY CHAPMAN IF THERE were any doubts that the spa and wellness industry is becoming a saturated one, they were put to rest at this year's Spa Industry Seminar by Turning Point an Asian
      FILE PHOTOS  -  684 words
  • Page 17 Advertisements
  • Page 17 Miscellaneous
    • 302 17 CRYPTIC CROSSWORD t ing head of department but Autuss not in a dry manner (6) 6 Different attitude after trans- g All-in school (13) plant (6,2 5) 7 Only temporarily off work in 8 Gree h k r C^lf ter allOWod t0 America (6,4,3) q rvlf. fth o*,,mm Q r
      302 words

  • SHOPPING
    • 1310 18  -  Handsewn shoes are niche products that appeal to those with a fine eye for details and appreciate exceptional quality, combined with subtle styling and great comfort, CORINNE KERK finds out CORINNE KERK MAURICE Kinney's brow furrows in concentration as he punches holes in
      1,310 words

  • PERSONAL SPACE
    • 1090 19  -  Cultural Medallion winner Anthony Poon's home is the white box for his art, CHEAH UI-HOON discovers when she drops by CHEAH UI-HOON STEP into artist Anthony Poon's Mount Sinai home and you'll be swept over by waves. The waves of his art in literal,
      PHOTOS BY CHRIS LOH  -  1,090 words
    • 3034 20  -  GEOFFREY EU has Michelin stars in his eyes including the legendary El Bulli on a one-week dash through culinary Spain GEOFFREY EU ONE short week, seven top restaurants, 15 Michelin stars a delicious premise but also a culinar.y mission tough enough to make seasoned gastronomes choke
      3,034 words
    • 90 20 Revelations: (above) Mugaritz's highly imaginative offering of sauted sea cucumber, garlic leaves and a couple of pieces of 'vegetable carbon; (left) Sant Pau's Autumn Aspic is a beauty of a starter; (below) El Bulli's assault on the senses —turtle dove meat with seaweed foam Memorable:(left) Fagollaga's salad features
      PHOTOS: GEOFFREY EU  -  90 words