KUALA LUMPUR: Paramount Corp Bhd's pre-tax profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011 has risen 16.3 per cent to RM25.7 million from RM22.1 million in the same quarter in 2010.

Its revenue grew 1.5 per cent to RM103.9 million from RM102.4 million previously, the company said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia on May 19.

HONG KONG: The overall office demand in Asia remained positive in 1Q 2011, thanks to abundant liquidity, according to the Asia Pacific Office Market Overview recently released by Colliers International.

KUALA LUMPUR: UOA Development Bhd, which is targeting to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on June 8, is planning to undertake 13 projects with a gross development value of RM10 billion.

Its chief operating officer of development David Khor said on Thursday, May 19 the company had 13 projects in the pipeline of which 65% would be in Bangsar South.

SHANGHAI: New house prices rose moderately month on month in April in 57 out of 70 mainland cities despite government efforts to cool the residential property sector, although volumes fell.

KLANG: WCT Bhd is targeting RM300 million in property sales this year versus RM220 million in FY10 ended Dec 31, banking on its real estate investments in retail and hospitality assets to spur the company's earnings.

Meanwhile, the construction outfit had tendered for about RM10 billion worth of jobs, said its chairman Datuk Capt A Suffian.

PETALING JAYA: While oil and gas (O&G) companies are already identified as prime beneficiaries of the US$20 billion (RM60.8 billion) Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (RAPID) in Pengerang, Johor, a surprise winner arising from the project is Multi-Purpose Holdings Bhd (MPHB).

CHINA has hailed reconstruction efforts since a massive earthquake levelled parts of Sichuan province three years ago as a major victory, but a lack of jobs and crippling debts to pay for new homes are making life difficult for many.

KUALA LUMPUR: TPM College Sdn Bhd and leading applied research institute, Fraunhofer Germany, will jointly organise a two-day green building design workshop, beginning June 2, for players in the construction industry.

HONG KONG: Subway operator MTR Corp Ltd said it has entered into two project agreements with Hong Kong's government, of which the company will bear and finance construction costs totalling HK$17.78 billion (RM6.94 billion).

BEIJING: New home prices in China rose 4.3% in April from a year earlier, slowing from a rise of 5.2% in March, according to Reuters calculations from official data.

New home prices in Beijing rose 2.8% in April from a year earlier, down from a 4.9% annual rise in March, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, May 18.