KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign experts who gathered in Kuala Lumpur for an international convention on structural steel recently have applauded the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) launched by the government, particularly the Greater Kuala Lumpur / Klang Valley (KL/KV) Plan.

LONDON: Although residential property prices across the UK were predicted to decline by up to 30%, industry experts see a return to long-term growth trends caused by robust market fundamentals, said London Central Portfolio Ltd (LCP).

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said new housing areas would not be approved if the locations of existing houses of the worship were not taken into consideration.

He said he had made this decision after problems arose, including in Shah Alam, when house buyers protested when they found their property located close to houses of worship.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) does not impose conditions on project developers, including asking them to provide replacement housing for squatters before approving the plan.

BANGKOK: Top executives of the Thai Real Estate Association, Thai Condominium Association, and the Housing Business Association affirmed on Wednesday, Nov 10 that these there are no signs of bubbles in the domestic property market as reported in some media, Thai News Agency reported.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tower Real Estate Investment Trust (Tower REIT) announced on Wednesday, Nov 10 that pre-tax profit for its third quarter ended Sept 30, 2010, increased slightly to RM7.777 million from RM7.707 million in the same quarter last year.

Revenue rose to RM12.975 million from RM12.744 million previously, it said in a statement.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has issued the Certificate of Occupancy (OC) for 7,571 units of low- and low-medium-cost houses in the state up to September this year.

State Housing and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the OCs were issued by both the Penang and Seberang Perai municipal councils.

HONG KONG: Luxury home sales in Hong Kong have reached new peaks despite the government's efforts to cap rising prices.

Both by transaction number and value, upmarket home sales — those valued at more than HK$20 million (RM7.98 million) — have broken records, defying cooling measures such as higher stamp duty and a crackdown on speculation.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) recorded a pre-tax profit of RM310.638 million for the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2010, on the back of RM72.445 million revenue.

KUALA LUMPUR: Publika the country’s first creative retail centre, integrating arts and culture with urban shopping and dining will see Ben's Independent Grocer (BIG) supermarket as its anchor tenant.