In Focus

Consumer loans accelerate to 18.9% in 2011

Consumer loans accelerate to 18.9% in 2011

This is the highest bank lending activity since November 2008, rising to 17.3% this year.

IDA acts on roaming phone bill shock by setting $100 monthly limit

Finally, Singaporean mobile customers can tell their operator enough is enough and limit their monthly data roaming fees to $100.

Three condo launches this week will test residential market

EXCLUSIVE:  Developers are rushing to put their blocks on sale in a "goldilocks" window, but will it work?

Only 19% of Singapore boards consult HR in matters relating to board compensation:Aon, USC

This is compared to the 44% of U.S. respondents who consult the HR, according to the survey conducted by Aon Hewitt and University of Southern California.

Grade A office rents up 11.2% over last 3 months:Colliers

Year growth is expected to come up to about 25%, reaching $2,500- 2,700psf by end 2011.

Mall operators may raise rents by 6.5% or more this year: DBS

Despite 2.6msf of retail space over 2009/2010 falling to 0.9msf p.a over the next 2 years, landlords will still get a raise.

13% average bonus increase last year failed to satisfy Singapore finance sector professionals

While 53% of those surveyed reported that their bonus was higher than in 2009, only 45% of respondents indicated they were satisfied with their bonus.

Boss, the plane! : Funtasy Island ready to take on Sentosa with a 20 minute ride from Harbourfront

Funtasy Island Resort is 16 kilometres from the Vivocity Shopping Center, Singapore and only 20 minutes away by ferry from the Harbourfront, Singapore.

Rising fuel prices to heighten inflation

While the MAS is right that the bulk of the inflationary pressure previously came from high COE prices and accommodation costs, food and fuel prices will become more prominent factors in the inflation equation.

Inflation may have surged to 5.9% in February 2011

Inflationary risks are centainly rising and food inflation has also been steadily rising, said DBS.

Singapore Airlines beats out Shangri-La as Singapore's most desired brand

The top 100 brands in Asia were ranked and among the top ten were Google (3) and Apple (4), Mercedes (5) and Rolex (6).

Non-oil domestic exports to the US rose by 20% in February 2011

However, NODX to Indonesia and Hong Kong declined by 17% and 6% respecively, due to electronic and non-electronic NODX.

Developers slowly raise prices of properties:DBS

New launches have achieved decent take-up and developers are taking this window of opportunity to raise prices, although at a slower rate.

Only 35% of organisations in Singapore are currently recruiting

But over 90% of businesses have retained their staff, according to Antal Global Snapshot.

Government revised retail sales, food and beverage indices

To reflect changes in the structure of retail trade and food & beverage services industries, the coverage and weighting patterns are revised at regular intervals.

7 in 10 employer websites do not offer job search function

68% are not doing well enough in terms of navigation, design, content, and functionality.

Proposed amendments in Deposit Insurance Act raised coverage limit to $50k

The increased coverage will raise the proportion of fully insured depositors from 83 per cent to 91 per cent.