SHANGHAI: Shanghai’s key stock index fell for the first time on Aug 18 after four days on concern that the central government might unveil more tightening measures for property developers.

ShanghaiDaily.com reported that the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.21% or 5.59 points to close at 2,666.30 while turnover was at 128.9 billion yuan (RM34.2 million).

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of local investors buying properties in London has increased significantly since the end of 2009, said an official from Henry Butcher Real Estate Sdn Bhd.

The official said that the increase can be attributed to rising property prices in Singapore and Australia, two popular investment destinations for Malaysians, and the weakened pound sterling.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two more buildings are expected to be awarded with the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia Cybercentre status by end-2010, according to Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC).

HONG KONG: It may not be The Peak but for tenants of a run-down 57-year-old low-rise in North Point it's home. Now under a new rule on property acquisitions that is about to change.

SHANGHAI: Shanghai has temporarily suspended loans for home decorations under the city's housing fund programme to clean-up unscrupulous practices by some estate agencies, reported Wenhui Daily citing sources from the Shanghai Provident Management Centre.

BEIJING: China saw its foreign direct investment (FDI) for July increased by 29% from the previous year to US$6.92 billion (RM21.69 billion), making it the fourth consecutive month that China has experienced an FDI increase of more than 20%, according to news portal Chinadaily.com.

SEOUL: South Korea's ruling party leader on Thursday, Aug 19 urged the government to quickly adopt measures aimed at reactivating housing transactions, which have slumped due to uncertain economic prospects and strict regulations.

WASHINGTON: The US government’s role in housing finance should undergo “fundamental change,” but it should still provide some guarantees in the mortgage market, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Tuesday.

HONG KONG: The pause in the property market lasted for just one weekend.

Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd, the city’s second-biggest developer, bought two sites at auction on Tuesday, in Ho Man Tin and Hung Hom, for HK$7.61 billion (RM3.09 billion) — at least 20% higher than the market forecast.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) posted a net profit growth of 28% in its third quarter ended June 30, 2010 (3QFY10) to RM243.5 million from RM17.86 million a year earlier on the back of higher crude palm oil (CPO) and rubber prices, and improved performance from the manufacturing and retailing sectors.