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Changi Airport is expected to handle 60 million passengers this year.

Around 180 guests attended the awards dinner held on June 8. It is imperative for local and international companies in Singapore to innovate in order to stand out amidst the uncertainties in both the local and global markets. In an effort to recognise the companies that excelled despite the market challenges, Singapore Business Review held this year’s International Business Awards, National Business Awards, and Listed Companies Awards. The winning companies were honoured and presented to around 180 participants at a joint awards ceremony held on June 8, 2017, at the Conrad Centennial Singapore. Now on its fourth year, the International Business Awards lauds the most outstanding international firms operating in Singapore. The Listed Companies Awards, on the other hand, is now on its third year of recognising innovative publicly listed companies in the city-state. Meanwhile, homegrown Singaporean companies were honoured in the second National Business Awards. This year's nominations were judged by a panel consisting of Ng Jiak See, executive director and head of corporate finance advisory at Deloitte Singapore & Southeast Asia; Choo Eng Chuan, ASEAN markets leader and partner, international and corporate tax services at Ernst & Young Solutions LLP; Toh Kim Teck, assurance partner at Foo Kon Tan LLP; and Henry Tan, managing director at NEXIA TS. Below is the list of winners: Listed Companies Awards Geo Energy Resources Limited - Metals & Mining LHN Limited - Building Services & Facilities OUE Limited - Real Estate International Business Awards AIA Singapore - Life Insurance AirAsia - Airline Bordier & Cie (Singapore) - Banking LF Logistics Services Pte Ltd - Logistics Lionbridge - Business Services Pepperl+Fuchs Asia - Electronic Manufacturing SICK Product Center Asia Pte. Ltd. - Electronics Victory Hill Exhibitions Pte Ltd - Media & Entertainment Vygon Asia Pte Ltd - Pharmaceuticals Yerra Solutions - Compliance Consulting National Business Awards Agrivo International Limited - Agriculture Cityneon Holdings - Diversified Services ENOVAX PTE LTD - IT Services Fundnel Limited - Financial Technology Moove Media Pte Ltd - Advertising PSB Academy - Education RHT Holdings Pte. Ltd. - Compliance Consulting Richz Technology (S) Pte Ltd - Industrial Services Kloud-Soft Pte Ltd - Computer Software System Integration

Consumer spending declined for two quarters in a row.

The UK election results may keep investors cautious.

And smart tech offers many perks for HDB estates.From Dollars And Sense via Yahoo!: In recent years, there have been plenty of discussion surrounding the topic about whether shopping malls in Singapore will undergo a gradual, permanent decline, given the increasing popularity of e-commerce. Rows of vacant shops at once popular malls seem to reinforce the notion that malls are dying. But is that really the case? Unbeknownst to most shoppers, many of the large shopping malls in Singapore are actually owned by real estate investment trusts (REITs) or property developers. These include mega malls such as VivoCity and Ion Orchard, which are owned and managed by MapleTree Commercial Trust and CapitaLand Mall respectively. In contrast, some of the smaller and older malls such as People’s Park Complex and Beauty World Centre are Strata-Titled, which means they are owned individually by multiple landlords.From the Motley Fool Singapore: Local telco StarHub Ltd lost 11,000 Pay TV subscribers in the first quarter of 2017 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. In the third quarter of 2016, StarHub’s Pay-TV segment also recorded a sequential loss of 11,000 subscribers. In the last quarter of 2016, the subscriber-loss had narrowed to 9,000. However, as we’ve just seen, the latest quarter saw those losses widen again to 11,000 subscribers.From PropertyGuru: Adopting smart technologies in HDB estates has many benefits, revealed the Housing Board’s CEO Cheong Koon Hean. For example, families can reduce their power usage for lights by 60 percent and slash potable water use by 66 percent, while the government could cut manpower needs by 70 percent. But as Singapore builds more smart towns and becomes more technologically advanced, it’s vital to create standards for developing such communities. Even if technologies change, if these protocols have been established, household devices can be conveniently incorporated into the system, she explained.

Construction sector recorded highest employment declines.

Consumers spent $508.7m on video games in the past year.

A deal will open doors for Singapore firms to explore opportunities in Myanmar. The International Enterprise Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and to open the doors for more Singapore firms to set up shop in Myanmar. The deal provides an opportunity for Singapore firms to explore collaboration in urban and housing solutions, utilities, transport and logistics, manufacturing, oil and gas and professional services in Myanmar's market. “Myanmar has shown steady growth since its political and economic reforms started in 2011. Whilst teething challenges are present, as with any emerging economy, we note the government’s efforts to create a conducive business environment for foreign investors. For instance, its newly-passed investment law shows the government’s commitment to promote investments. Through this MOU, we hope to further collaboration between both countries on urban solutions, transport and logistics, utilities and professional services,” IE Singapore's Assistance CEO Tan Soon Kim said. As of end March 2017, Singapore was Myanmar’s top foreign investor with investments amounting to US$4.3b. As Myanmar’s key cities develop, IE Singapore has been working closely with Singapore companies across all sectors to contribute to the growing infrastructure and lifestyle needs of the burgeoning urban population. For instance, through IE Singapore’s introduction and facilitation, BreadTalk successfully negotiated its franchise model with Myanmar conglomerate Shwe Taung. Its first stall in the country has opened in Shwe Taung’s landmark Junction City mall, occupying a prime space on the ground floor. Meanwhile, Bok Seng Logistics made its first in-roads into Myanmar after identifying a credible local business partner with IE Singapore’s facilitation. In February, it signed a MOU with Ayeyar Hinthar, the largest conglomerate in the Ayeyarwaddy Region which owns the Pathein Industrial City (PIC), the region’s first large-scale industrial park. With this, it will explore provision of logistics hubs services to the PIC and beyond.

The property was sold to Champsworth Development.

Thanks to the 15% increase in ETF turnover value.

Despite being the largest MRO operator, it lags behind in revenue terms.

Whilst volume rose 8.1% to 1,983 flats sold. There was a slight 0.1% decrease in HDB Resale prices for the past month compared to April. The resale prices of 5 Rooms and HDB Executive increased by 0.5% and 0.3% respectively, while HDB 3 Rooms remain unchanged and HDB 4 Rooms decreased by 0.1%. According to SRX Property, prices decreased 0.7% year-on-year and declined 11.6% since the peak in April 2013. In terms of resale volumes, there were 1,983 flats sold in May 2017, an 8.1% increase from 1,834 transacted units in April. On a yearly basis, resale volume increased by 7.5% compared to 1,844 units resold in May 2016. However, it was down by 45.7% compared to its peak of 3,649 units in May 2010.  

Outlook for property markets in Asia remains positive in the long-term. Keppel Corporation is well-positioned to ride the property upturn, driven by the general positive long-term outlook for Asia's property markets. According to OCBC Investment Research, Keppel’s core markets are Singapore, China, as well as Vietnam and Indonesia. It also has a foothold in Myanmar. The brokerage firm said despite the property cooling measures in selected cities in China, the group sold over 3,800 units and handed over some 3,480 units in 2016. "Sales in China contributed to about 65% of the total 5,720 residential units that Keppel Land sold in 2016," it said. Meanwhile, Keppel sold 380 units during the said year in Singapore, double the 190 units in 2015. "With its landbank of 1.3m sq ft in prime locations, Keppel is well-positioned to ride on a recovery in the residential market when it occurs. Keppel’s residential landbank in Singapore and overseas total 8.4m sqm of GFA, translating to a pipeline of about 66,000 homes, mostly in China and Vietnam," OCBC Investment Research noted.  

Earnings are set to recover after two years of negative growth. This year spells good earnings per share for the overall market, with expectations of an 8% rise from the decline of 7.6% in the past year. According to UOB KayHian, earnings are set to recover after two years of negative growth. "So far, the 1Q17 reporting season has been encouraging and with a pick-up in Singapore’s GDP, we see a lower downside risk in corporate earnings in 2017. The recovery is key after two years of negative earnings growth and disappointments in the market. Particularly comforting is the solid results from banks as it appears that the worst is over for NPL formation from the oil & gas sector," the brokerage firm said. More so, it noted that the strength in NODX over the past 5 months (up to March) suggests a likely pick-up in Singapore’s GDP growth in 2017.  

The move came as the city recorded a pickup in demand. RHB said CapitaLand's recent office asset swap with the divestment of Innov Tower and the acquisition of Guozheng Centre is slightly positive for the group. According to the brokerage firm, it allows CapitaLand to unlock value from a mature stabilised asset and at the same time, gain entry into a newly-completed property of similar quality at lower price levels. More so, the move comes amidst a pickup in demand for properties in Shanghai’s Fringe CBD. "Fringe CBD assets are becoming particularly attractive to cost-conscious CBD tenants looking to consolidate or expand, as well as to companies that are seeking upgrade options from older properties. Decentralised office rents in Shanghai rose 4.4% YoY last year, while CBD rents showed a slight decline in 2H16 after strong 1H16," RHB said, quoting a JLL report.  

It currently holds 28.5% stake in the telco.