Bamboo Innovator

Investor treaties in trouble; Several countries are reviewing these agreements, prompted by the number of cases brought by foreign companies who claim that changes in government policies affect their future profits

Updated: Monday March 24, 2014 MYT 8:08:52 AM

Investor treaties in trouble

BY MARTIN KHOR

Several countries are reviewing these agreements, prompted by the number of cases brought by foreign companies who claim that changes in government policies affect their future profits.

THE tide is turning against investment treaties that allow foreign investors to take up cases against host governments and claim compensation of up to billions of dollars. Read more of this post

BMW regional parts distribution centre in Singapore to Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Malaysia; being in Malaysia has allowed the carmaker to upscale its business with much succcess

23 March 2014| last updated at 11:36PM

BMW moves S’pore parts centre to Johor

JOHOR BARU: Carmaker BMW AG will relocate its regional parts distribution centre in Sembawang, Singapore to Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Gelang Patah, Johor in August.

The centre keeps an inventory of parts for BMW sedans, sports activity vehicles and Mini series. Read more of this post

Indian business looks to Modi to spark capex revival

March 23, 2014 7:31 am

Indian business looks to Modi to spark capex revival

By James Crabtree in Mumbai

India’s opinion polls put opposition leader Narendra Modi as the country’s next prime minister, shortly after election results are announced on May 16. But will India’s corporate sector, enthused by the arrival of a new government headed by a self-described business-friendly leader, then begin investing once again? Read more of this post

European regulators warn as risky loans rise above bubble peak

March 23, 2014 7:31 pm

European regulators warn as risky loans rise above bubble peak

By Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Martin Arnold in London

Debt investors are abandoning normal creditor protections on European leveraged buyout loans as they snap up riskier securities at a faster rate and in greater proportions than at the peak of the credit bubble. Read more of this post

German property rush chases concrete gold; Low interest rates see savers invest in houses and flats

March 23, 2014 2:44 pm

Germany’s property rush is based on concrete gold

By Claire Jones in Frankfurt

For Germans these days, some things that do not glitter are gold. A property boom across the biggest cities has been dubbed a betongold – literally concrete gold – rush. Read more of this post

Libraries lend themselves to new business creation

March 23, 2014 12:31 pm

Libraries lend themselves to new business creation

By Andrew Bounds, North of England correspondent

Manchester’s imposing Central Library reopened this weekend with a mission to inspire a new generation to read – and start businesses. Read more of this post

Xi’s rising clout could mean swifter reforms

Xi’s rising clout could mean swifter reforms

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 – 03:00

Kor Kian Beng

The Straits Times

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s concentration of power in his hands, through the proliferation of intra-party panels that he heads, could change the consultative decision-making process through collective leadership that came about in the 1990s. Read more of this post

China Set to Cap Transfers Using Mobile-Payment Services

China Set to Cap Transfers Using Mobile-Payment Services

Move Comes as State Banks Push Back Against Finance Businesses of E-Commerce Giants Alibaba, Tencent

Updated March 24, 2014 11:34 a.m. ET

BEIJING—China’s largest Internet firms have had startling success elbowing their way onto the turf of the state-run banks, but now the country’s banks and regulators are pushing back. Read more of this post

SEC probes banks and companies in complex bond and loan securities dealings: WSJ

SEC probes banks and companies in loan securities dealings: WSJ

Mon, Mar 24 2014

(Reuters) – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an investigation into the increasing number of complex bond deals on Wall Street that may create new opportunities for fraud, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Read more of this post

Angry Chinese Homeowners Vent Frustrations After Price Cuts; Homeowners Demand Their Money Back After Developer Cuts Prices on New Homes

Angry Chinese Homeowners Vent Frustrations After Price Cuts

Homeowners Demand Their Money Back After Developer Cuts Prices on New Homes

ESTHER FUNG

March 22, 2014 9:11 a.m. ET

CHANGZHOU, China—Groups of angry homeowners put up banners and demanded their money back after Hong Kong-listed property developer Wharf Ltd. cut prices on new homes in an eastern Chinese city, in the latest sign of stress in the nation’s property market. Read more of this post