Mainland investors still keen to bet on equities

Despite uncertainty about the direction of the mainland stock market, many investors say they are inclined to withdraw their bank savings for investment, a central bank survey shows.

Shanda Games drops after raising US$1b in IPO

Shanda Games fell on its first day of trading in New York yesterday after the unit of China’s biggest online games provider raised US$1.04 billion in the largest United States-only initial public offering by a Chinese company since at least 1999.

Going back to its roots, HSBC moves CEO to Hong Kong

But the 144-year-old bank will remain based in UK for tax purposes

Debut flops may not fully deter punters

Despite mediocre performances of some initial public offerings over the past week, analysts believe investors may still be tempted by share sales from Yingde Gases Group and China Vanadium Titano-Magnetite Mining.

How much is a burger worth?

According to a recent UBS survey, Singaporeans can afford to buy less than what people in many other cities can because prices here have risen more than wages.

OCBC drops winding-up petition against FibreChem

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (Hong Kong Branch) has dropped its winding-up application against FibreChem Technologies to give the company some breathing space to work out a restructuring plan.

Rights-driven penny fever reigns supreme

Wall Street wields greater impact on local stocks as China market influence continues to wane

Sometimes the old ways are best to solve disputes

In the capital of Zhejiang, respected members of communities in Xiacheng district have formed associations of mediators - known as heshilao, or peacemakers - to solve civil disputes without resorting to the courts.

The scientific long march

China’s great minds survived Maoist dogma to play a big part in national development

“Mainland scientists are not good at winning Nobel prizes, but they are doing a good job making the country rich and powerful.”

US outcast who founded missile programme

Qian Xuesen, also known as Tsien Hsue-shen, was one of the United States’ top missile scientists before he became the subject of a five-year witch-hunt that ended with him being deported to the mainland. The system which Qian, now 98, helped put together after his return has since nurtured a nuclear power and space programme that has sent astronauts into the heavens and a probe to the moon.

Beijing’s man for tight economic calls

Quiet and modest Liu He helps shape key policy

Two days after the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings a year ago, an adviser sent by Premier Wen Jiabao met with a group of Harvard University scholars to help shape China’s response.

Singapore’s GIC likely to report shift into property and resources

Singapore’s US$200 billion-plus sovereign wealth fund GIC is likely to reveal next week it is moving more money into property, resources and Asian assets after recently cutting its exposure to large Western banks.

Banned history book’s Hong Kong release to go ahead despite warnings

The author of a history book banned on the mainland for criticising traditional Chinese culture has decided to defy the authorities’ orders not to release the work in Hong Kong.

‘Dead’ senior officer held for alleged bribery

A senior Chongqing police officer who had reportedly died while in detention is alive and was formally arrested yesterday on bribery charges, state media reported.

Stocks’ rally to be tested by jobs data

The rally in stocks, which stumbled in recent days on worries about the economic recovery and continued government stimulus, will be tested next week by crucial data on growth and jobs.

Ma felt typhoon victims were ungrateful, sister reveals

In a public statement that caught everybody off-guard, his eldest sister, Ma Yi-nan, said her brother found the typhoon victims ungrateful.

Zhonghui placed under judicial management

Zhonghui Holdings has been placed under judicial management, following a court petition by its creditor United Overseas Bank (UOB). The Singapore High Court has appointed Goh Thien Phong and Chan Kheng Tek, both partners of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as the judicial managers, the China-based waste management company said yesterday.

The famous Mao slogan, that he never even used

Taiwan blocks visit by exiled Uighur leader

Taiwan has decided not to allow exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer to visit the island, a move applauded by analysts on mainland China yesterday.

HDB strikes back with ghost writers

Instead of addressing the concerns of Singaporeans that they are being squeezed out of the housing market by rising prices of HDB flats, HDB has struck back to correct public perception through its officers and a deluge of letters from ghost writers.