Sharon Tan

Finance

Asian cities dominate GFCI 29

New York, London, and Shanghai maintain the top 3 spots followed by Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, and Shenzhen The world’s financial systems are starting to stabilise with vaccines being rolled out on a daily basis and things are going back to normal. The pandemic had a significant impact on financial markets and this is reflected in the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) where Asian cities dominated the rankings. Of the top 10 financial centres, only Frankfurt’s rating improved by 12 points, while the other hubs dipped in ratings. Overall, the index scores are lower compared to 2019, but the average

February 12, 2024 No Comments

Hong Kong News

JLL: APAC commercial property transaction volumes to improve by 15-20% in 2021

The pandemic accelerated industry trends and revealed an exciting ‘opportunity in obsolescence’ in Asia’s commercial property sector As we enter the second year since the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc in the world, we are now starting to see some positive light. Outlook for commercial property in Asia is improving as industries stabilise and growth areas prop up demand for office spaces. Traditional sectors like finance and service were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, but this may not be fully attributed to the virus. Talking to Bloomberg Markets Asia, JLL APAC CEO Anthony Couse said that the pandemic only accelerated

February 11, 2024 No Comments

News

Why Penang still tops the Malaysian holiday home market

Next to Kuala Lumpur, Penang is probably the most highly urbanized island in all of Malaysia. It is home to more than 1.7 million Malaysians who enjoy high standards of living but with considerably minimal costs than that of KL. Although a haven of development, Penang still houses the charm of the old-world – breathtaking coastlines, lush greenery, nature parks, wild animals, to name a few. This is primarily the reason why both foreign nationals and locals are drawn to getting their prized properties in the region. Realty developments in Penang are mostly centred in its capital city, Georgetown. The

February 11, 2024 No Comments

Investments

Whisky Investments: A Surprisingly Profitable Fresh Market

Why is whisky a preferred alcoholic beverage of millions of people worldwide? Whisky is a classic in the world of spirits. Scotch is a national commodity and an export in Scotland. It has acted as the impetus for a significant national industry and is deeply ingrained in the country’s history. However, although everyone has heard of aged whisky as a luxury liqueur, this expensive beverage has become a commodity in recent years. Whisky investment has become a viable financial option for many fans. Everyone may now invest in a barrel of their preferred whisky brand and keep it with the

February 10, 2024 No Comments

News

Trump scrubbed out of Indonesian leisure project

The trajectory of Donald Trump’s plans to establish The Trump Organization’s presence in Indonesia has taken an unexpected turn, encountering various obstacles along the way. Overview of the Project: Originally envisioned as a sprawling Rp35tn (S$3.2bn) leisure complex, the project aimed to introduce an array of residential homes, country clubs, and leisure resorts to Southeast Asia. In collaboration with Indonesia’s MNC Group, it aspired to create “the first integrated Trump Resort and Residencies in Asia.” Initial Enthusiasm: The initial stages of the project were marked by enthusiasm, with Donald Trump Jr. gracing a pre-launch event in August 2019. The event

February 10, 2024 No Comments

UK News

Getting your house in order: the UK’s Register of Overseas Entities and why you should care

New UK legislation requiring overseas entities holding UK property to obtain a certificate of registration from a new central register from August 1st, 2022, has been approved by Parliament. Overseas entities will be able to gain a certificate of registration for free. However, failure to comply with the requirements will trigger severe penalties of up to two years in jail or unlimited fines. Whilst this is already in force, further real estate provisions relating to restrictions on dealing with UK property are due to be released on September 5th, 2022. What prompted the introduction of this legislation? The new rules

February 9, 2024 No Comments

Featured

Scotch Whisky Is The Hottest Collectible Of 2022

Scotch whisky is the most attractive asset class globally, with experts predicting a rapid climb in its appeal within the investment community over the next three years. Scotch has been underpriced for decades, and as it matures, investors will extensively benefit as demand outstrips supply. It’s an exciting time to get involved, and we recommend jumping onboard before that happens. The collectible market journey Consumers are showing their signs of optimism in the economy and are putting their money where it counts. Collectible investments are physical objects that people can collect. Traditionally, people have collected antiques, fine art, stamps, vintage

February 8, 2024 No Comments

News

When does the stamp duty holiday end? See how it works for second homes and buy-to-let properties

Second-home buyers and buy-to-let investors will potentially save thousands of pounds due to the stamp duty holiday. All property buyers benefit from the tax break announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the summer of 2020, which was recently extended and tapered until September 2021. This means that those buying additional properties, such as a second home or as an investment, only pay the tax at a rate of three percentage points on the first £500,000 of a property’s price. Outside the holiday, these buyers would pay this surcharge on the first £125,000, after that they were charged 5pc on the

February 7, 2024 No Comments

Finance

Britain’s booming property market sees 13 buyers for every home sold

Agreed sales last month were up 57% compared to April 2019 Many estate agents are now immediately asking prospective buyers for their ‘best and final offer’ to prevent gazumping Experts said the industry is working around the clock and buyers are resorting to extreme measures to secure a home The surge in demand is largely due to ultra-low interest rates and stamp duty relief for homes under £500,000 Britain’s booming property market is producing record sales figures, with an average of 13 buyers for every home listed. Agreed sales last month were up 57% compared to April 2019, with many

February 7, 2024 No Comments

News

Insight into the Surging Buyer Demand and Rising House Prices in the UK Property Market

In recent times, the UK property market has witnessed a remarkable surge in buyer demand, driving average house prices to their highest levels since 2007. Let’s delve into the dynamics shaping this unprecedented phenomenon. Rapid Surge in Buyer Demand: Buyer demand across Great Britain has surged by an impressive 52% in April 2021 compared to April 2019, mirroring a similar trend in London with a notable increase of 48%. This surge in demand is indicative of a strong rebound in the property market, signifying renewed confidence among buyers despite uncertainties brought about by the pandemic. Impressive Growth in House Prices:

February 5, 2024 No Comments