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Sime Darby Bhd (MIDF Research) neutral; target price RM8.40

•  Sime  Darby  registered  net  earnings  of RM804.2m in 9M10, a 38%yoy decline due to the hefty provisions incurred by its E&U division.

•  Improved results  from  the Plantation, Property, Motor, Healthcare and Other divisions mitigated the decline  in  Industrial division profit and  the harrowing losses from E&U division.

City & Country: Smoother days for Mont’Kiara

Mont’Kiara resident Jamie Lee loves living in the high-rise residential enclave in Kuala Lumpur, but these days leaving her home at the “wrong” time means spending “quality time” with her car and radio. “Mont’Kiara is ... in the middle of everything, but I have to strategise my trips to and from home. Six years ago, there were fewer condominiums and retail centres.

City & Country: A Pearl on KL’s skyline

A short distance away from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and Pavilion KL shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) is the latest addition to the high-end condominium market ­— The Pearl. Once completed in 2011, it will stand 41 storeys high, with views of either the Twin Towers or the green knolls of the Royal Selangor Golf Club.

City & Country: Increase in property prices expected to be gentler

The property market in Penang continues to be buoyant, with both the primary and secondary markets posting stronger sales in 1Q2010 than in 4Q2009.However, Raine & Horne International Zaki + Partners’ director Michael Geh expects a gentler increase in property prices in the next few months considering the rising interest rate environment.

Offshore: Aiming for the Peaks

An upcoming development that is expected to be the litmus test for the resilience of Singapore’s luxury residential market in the face of a jittery global stock market is Twin Peaks by Overseas Union Enterprise (OUE).

Briefs

Penang calls for tender to refurbish Crag Hotel The Penang government is calling for tenders from companies interested in the renovation, refurbishment and management of the Crag Hotel on Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill).