KUALA LUMPUR: In what appears to be a move to consolidate his shareholding in Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O), its managing director Datuk Terry Tham Ka Hon has seen his direct interest in the company increasing over the past few weeks.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ho Hup Construction Company Bhd has obtained "holding over" interim orders from the High Court here on its application for injunctions relating to the joint development agreement (JDA) dated March 16, 2010 between its 70% subsidiary Bukit Jalil Development Sdn Bhd (BJDSB) and Malton Bhd's subsidiary Pioneer Haven Sdn Bhd (PHSB).

CHICAGO: Bio-Xcell, a biotechnology park launched in Nusajaya last September, has attracted investments of about RM100 million each from its first three tenants – Glycos Biotechnologies Inc (USA), MGM Ingredients AG (Switzerland), and a listed India-based pharmaceutical company, which declined to be named citing regulatory reasons.

HAIKOU (China): With new home prices rising by almost 20% a month, Haikou would seem to be the dictionary definition of a property market bubble.

After China unveiled plans in late December to turn tropical Hainan island into an international tourist destination, tens of thousands of real-estate speculators headed for Haikou, the capital. Property prices predictably rocketed.

WASHINGTON: Pending sales of previously owned homes hit a five-month high in March as buyers rushed to sign contracts before a tax credit expired, while a jump in factory orders underscored manufacturing strength.

KUALA LUMPUR: Stainless steel prices have climbed steeply in the past 12 months, due mainly to the higher cost of raw materials, most notably nickel, according to the latest steel review dated May 5 of MEPS (International) Ltd.

MEPS, a UK-based global steel sector consultancy, also identified better demand post recession as another contributor to the higher stainless steel prices.

PETALING JAYA: The price growth of Hong Kong’s luxury residential sector is expected to narrow to 5% by year-end as uncertainties and new guidelines might stop people from buying and cause a short-term consolidation in sales volume, Colliers International executive director of residential sales Ricky Poon said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Colliers International, in its quarterly Asia Pacific Office Market Overview Report dated April 2010, stated that the office real estate segment is enjoying a revival. It stated that stronger-than-expected recovery registered in a number of centres in 1Q2010 contributed to the region’s gradual return to pre-crisis levels.

KUALA LUMPUR: Faber Group Bhd (Faber) saw a 30.6% rise in revenue of RM184 million for 1Q2010, compared with RM140.9 million in 1Q2009. Its profit before tax for 1Q2010 was RM23.9 million, or an increase of RM9.8 million, compared with RM14.1 million in 1Q2009.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT) saw a 10% rise in its net income for 1Q2010 ending March 31, 2010, at RM10.04 million compared with RM9.13 million in the same period last year.