HONG KONG: Chilly weather and a soon-to-be launched big housing project in Yuen Long deterred homebuyers, with the primary residential market virtually grinding to a halt over the three-day Lunar New Year holiday.

"As far as I know, not a single flat has been sold. It may be the worst performance of recent years," Sammy Po Siu-ming, a director of Midland Realty, said Feb 17.

SYDNEY: Westfield declined to comment on the offer made by U.S. retailer Simon Property Group to failed General Growth Properties, but said the Australian group was monitoring the situation.

"We are just watching the situation, but I won't comment directly on General Growth or Simon's position here," Managing Director Peter Lowy told an analysts' briefing Feb 17.

SYDNEY: Westfield Group, the world's largest shopping mall landlord by market value, is not yet ready to make major new investments in the United States, co-managing director Peter Lowy said Feb 17.

TOKYO: Morgan Stanley may hand over to creditors its $2.4 billion investment in a chain of Japanese hotels when the debt becomes due in April, the Wall Street Journal said Feb 17, citing people familiar with the matter.

DUBAI/TOKYO: Construction of the Dubai Metro has restarted after a settlement was reached with the Japanese-led consortium behind the project over about $2-3 billion in disputed payments, the Financial Times reported Feb 17.

NEW DELHI: Demand for residential property is expected to pick in the next six months, with prices likely to increase by up to 10%, Cushman & Wakefield (India) executive director, Ravi Ahuja said recently.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Holdings Bhd is an undervalued construction company, taking into account its earnings per share growth in excess of 25 per cent annually over the next two years, according to ECM Libra Investment Research.

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Wholesale Trade Centre (IWTC) in Serdang, Selangor developed by Metro Kajang Holdings Bhd is slated to come on stream in 2014 barring any delays.

KUALA LUMPUR: Peter’s Holdings, the developer of condominium project 1120 Park Avenue along Old Klang Road in Kuala Lumpur is offering an Easy Zero Payment Campaign (EZPC) scheme to its purchasers. It is believed to be the first such package done for the medium-cost property sector.

Cameron Highlands remains a favourite holiday destination for many reasons. Some of us love the quick getaway from the city and the cool weather, while others go there for the fresh flowers and vegetables.