SINGAPORE, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Singapore’s two
multi-billion-dollar casinos bear evidence of China’s economic
recovery: high rollers returned in force last quarter to the
resorts run by Genting Singapore Plc and Las Vegas
Sands Corp.

The revival in the lucrative VIP segment reversed a pattern
that analysts had observed in recent quarters, where whenever
one company saw a rise in VIP business, the other usually
reported a slowdown, suggesting that the two casinos were
fighting over a limited pool of punters. But over the last three
months of 2012, both Sands and Genting reported strong
year-on-year growth in that segment.

SINGAPORE, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Singapore commodities firm Olam
International Ltd, under attack by short-seller Muddy
Waters LLC for its aggressive spending and high debt, has begun
a review of its business priorities and free cash flow targets.

The review and the termination of a proposed $240 million
investment in a sugar miller in Brazil are the first signs that
Olam is breaking away from its debt-funded series of
acquisitions over the past few years.

SINGAPORE, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Singapore Airlines Ltd
reported a slightly weaker-than-expected 6 percent
rise in third quarter net profit as earnings from the sale of
aircraft and spares offset losses at its cargo unit, and it
warned of tough conditions ahead.

“The outlook for international air travel demand continues
to be challenging and the cargo market remains depressed amid
the troubled European economy and the weak recovery in the
United States,” the Singapore flag carrier said in a statement.

SINGAPORE/JAKARTA, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s economic
boom should be a bonanza for airlines clamouring for a slice of
the world’s fourth-most populous country. But the bankruptcy of
its No. 4 airline, Batavia Air, shows how smaller operators are
finding it hard to survive.

Batavia became the second budget carrier to run into debt
problems in Indonesia in the past two years – a victim of the
extremely tight operating margins that exist in what is a
crowded market.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Low-cost Southeast Asian airlines risk jeopardising their margins by buying too many planes too quickly, an influential aviation banker said.

Across the region, discount carriers have placed orders over the past two years for at least $50 billion worth of aircraft, taking new Boeing and Airbus jets to serve dozens of fresh routes and replace their fleets. They are betting the region’s expanding middle class will demand more and more frequent air travel for years to come.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Low-cost Southeast Asian airlines risk jeopardizing their margins by buying too many planes too quickly, an influential aviation banker said.

Across the region, discount carriers have placed orders over the past two years for at least $50 billion worth of aircraft, taking new Boeing and Airbus jets to serve dozens of fresh routes and replace their fleets. They are betting the region’s expanding middle class will demand more and more frequent air travel for years to come.

SINGAPORE, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Low-cost Southeast Asian
airlines risk jeopardising their margins by buying too many
planes too quickly, an influential aviation banker said.

Across the region, discount carriers have placed orders over
the past two years for at least $50 billion worth of aircraft,
taking new Boeing and Airbus jets to serve dozens of fresh
routes and replace their fleets. They are betting the region’s
expanding middle class will demand more and more frequent air
travel for years to come.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore property shares slumped the most in more than six months after the government launched sweeping measures to cool the housing market, where prices have soared to record highs due to low interest rates and huge demand from real estate speculators.

Shares in major developers CapitaLand Ltd (CATL.SI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) lost more than 4 percent, while Keppel Land Ltd (KLAN.SI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and City Developments Ltd (CTDM.SI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) both shed over 6 percent, dragging the main index .FTSTI 0.4 percent lower.

SINGAPORE, Dec 20 (Reuters) – Singapore property magnate
Simon Cheong, best known for selling luxury units at record
prices, may have to fork out more money to appease his company’s
key shareholder and take SC Global Developments Ltd
private in a planned S$745 million ($612 million) deal.

Cheong, who controls 60 percent of the company and is chief
executive and chairman, faces resistance from Wheelock
Properties (Singapore) Ltd, which owns 16 percent of
the firm and recently bought shares just above the tycoon’s
offer price.

SINGAPORE, Dec 14 (Reuters) – Cash-rich Singapore Airlines
Ltd will likely need acquisitions or more partnerships as it
reshapes its strategy to tap into the fast growing Asian markets
and to counter stiff competition from Middle Eastern carriers.

SIA’s cash pile stands at S$4.7 billion ($3.85 billion), and
that is set to increase after it agreed to sell a 49 percent
stake in Virgin Atlantic to Delta Air Lines for $360
million. SIA had written off the investment after purchasing the
stake in 2000.