JAKARTA: Indonesia's biggest cement producer, PT Semen Gresik, said on Tuesday, May 4, that it is in talks to acquire a Malaysia cement maker this year and has set aside more than 3.5 trillion rupiah (RM1.25 billion) for the deal.

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY: Australia's Westfield Group said on Tuesday, May 4 it would launch about A$1 billion ($2.98 billion) in development projects this year, including at home and in the US, as market conditions improve.

KUALA LUMPUR: The office rental market in Kuala Lumpur is expected to remain competitive, Cushman & Wakefield said in its 1Q2010 research report, as more landlords are willing to negotiate and offer leasing terms to maintain existing tenants while enticing new ones.

Stiff competition is also expected for the next six months with more buildings completed in 2010, it added.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government has announced the implementation of the National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan, which will see the start of the electricity feed-in-tariff (FiT) mechanism by 2011.

Hunza Properties: Results largely in line

Hunza Properties: 10th Anniversary special dividend

Hunza Properties: Better progress billings from Gurney Paragon

A new substantial shareholder enters

The buzz

SHANGHAI: In the eight years leading up to the World Expo, Shanghai has been a hive of activity, with armies of labourers working flat out to complete a series of massive infrastructure projects.

SYDNEY: Australian house prices surged 20% in the year to March, the fastest pace on record and a powerful argument for the central bank to raise interest rates this week.