Ex-British army homes may become Singapore hedge-fund hub

Singapore is planning to create its own hedge-fund capital modelled after Greenwich, Connecticut, in a cluster of ex-British army homes called Nepal Hill, a 15- minute cab-ride from the city-state’s main banking district.

Shanghai leaves Hong Kong behind in size of the economy in 2009

Shanghai’s economy exceeded the size of Hong Kong’s for the first time in at least three decades after stimulus spending helped China skirt the global crisis and lead the world out of recession.

How PM Lee can boost the productivity rate of his own PMO

“Salaries for political appointments – ministers, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries – are estimated to be $58.28 million, or 8.8 per cent higher than last year.”

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Why is an Independent Judiciary an importance part of a liberal democracy?

“The judiciary (also known as the judicial system or judicature) is the system of courts which interprets and applies the law in the name of the sovereign or state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the judiciary generally does not make law (which is the responsibility of the legislature) or enforce law (which is the responsibility of the executive), but rather interprets law and applies it to the facts of each case.

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Separation of Powers

Even though Singapore is a Democratic Country, I am concerned that there little if not, no concept of Separation of Powers, which is a very critical but common trait of any democratic country. Please allow me to quickly introduce the concept to you and the basis of my concerns with application to my homeland, Singapore.

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Second-tier cities offer growth potential

Where does one invest in China, which is such a vast market? One of Mapletree Investment’s strategies is to focus on second-tier cities with good growth potential, where it can find better value in real estate. And where growth has not fully taken off.

Head for China’s western frontier

Looking to invest in China? Go west, to Chongqing in central western China. Or head for Xian in the central north-west region. Both cities are on a new economic frontier that China is opening up.

A banking tale of tortoise and hare

Twenty years ago, if you had asked any equity investor which bank’s shares were destined to outperform over the next two decades - HSBC or Standard Chartered - he would have laughed in disbelief at your question. The answer was obvious: HSBC, of course.

And if you were to ask almost any investor which of the two stocks is most likely to outperform over the coming years, they would stare at you in amazement and answer “StanChart, of course.”

Contra trading hurts equity derivatives’ growth: SGX chief

Contra trading is here to stay but it is hurting the growth of equity derivatives here and will probably need to be re-priced, the new chief executive of the Singapore Exchange said yesterday.

Growth for whom, asks Sylvia

Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim cautioned yesterday that as Singapore pursues economic growth, the average citizen must also feel that he gains.

Law firms hike salaries, slice bonuses

Singapore’s largest law firms have upped the monthly salaries of their lawyers significantly, as they brace themselves for the onslaught of competition from the foreign law firms, amid the liberalisation of the legal industry here.

Chinese youth accused of not being fighting fit

China must urgently address the physical fitness of the nation’s youth or run the risk of raising a generation incapable of fighting the Japanese in a future war, the head of the country’s top sports university said Thursday.

China’s Wen Blocked by Politics From Fixing ‘Unstable’ Economy

Premier Wen Jiabao calls China’s economic growth path “unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unsustainable.” This week’s annual parliament session may prove he is unable to change its course.

New A-G regarded as one of world’s top arbitrators

Lawyers who are familiar with Senior Counsel Sundaresh Menon, who takes over as Singapore’s Attorney-General in October, yesterday described him as a man with many qualities that make him the perfect choice for the job.

Navy declares war on villagers encroaching on bases

The People’s Liberation Army Navy is facing countless potentially fatal accidents at their bases, where boats and nets are illegally placed by fishermen, the PLA Daily said yesterday.

No evidence to suggest car was stolen

It is unlikely that the black Audi A6 driven by former diplomat Silviu Ionescu had been stolen, as he had claimed to the Singapore authorities.

Night of revelry with wine and tequila

With Korean singing teacher Jeong Ae Ree - a woman he had met just days earlier - former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu went on a night of revelry on Dec 14 last year.

Teledata names Howard Kim new MD

IT company Teledata (Singapore) has appointed Howard Kim, who has more than 20 years of experience in the communications business, as its managing director.

China overtakes US in commercial real estate

China replaced the United States as the world’s largest commercial real estate investment market last year and is likely to retain that position as global money flows improve as the country’s economy grows, according to a report by property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield.

A Miniature World Magnifies Dwarf Life

Chen Mingjing’s entrepreneurial instincts vaulted him from a peasant upbringing to undreamed-of wealth, acquired in ventures ranging from making electric meters to investing in real estate. But when he was 44, the allure of making money for money’s sake began to wane. He wanted to run a business that accomplished some good.