14 March 2012, Wednesday
Autos
Tighter rules not to be solely blamed for dampened vehicle sales
Capital markets
One-third of listed companies didn’t fare well
Financial markets
Hong Kong and Malaysia launch pilot platform to spur trading of Sukuk and dim sum bonds
Graft
Minister’s husband charged; ‘Cowgate’ scandal potentially damaging
Insurance
Malaysian insurers losing war against fraud
Investment
Focus shifts to more high-tech and capital-intensive industry-related deals
Islamic banking and finance
Maybank Islamic to further strengthen presence in Indonesia and Singapore
Third Securities Commission-Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies roundtable comes to a close
Employees Provident Fund plans to increase holdings of global Sukuk
Tag-team approach for more credible output
Property
Bank Negara Malaysia report sought on My First Home scheme
ASIA
Banks
Bank focusing on Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
Economy
Asian governments embracing call for higher salaries
Islamic banking
Lack of awareness biggest challenge to growth
Metals
US, Europe and Japan challenge China’s restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals
May be too little, too late for Western and Japanese manufacturers
Pharmaceuticals
India ends Bayer’s monopoly on Nexavar
AUSTRALIA
Competition
Probe of Flight Centre could trigger second look at wholesaler-retailer relationship
Intellectual property
Difficulties in drafting restrictions on trade mark use
Damages for moral rights infringement
CANADA
Competition
Merger registry violates sanctity of corporate confidentiality and the law
Employment
Prudent to always confirm a voluntary resignation with the employee
Health
Tobacco companies named in country’s largest civil lawsuit
‘Government makes the rules, tobacco industry just plays along’
EUROPE
Antitrust
Flour producers in France and Germany fined EUR242 million
Insurance
Munich Re hopes for strong rebound
SINGAPORE
Capital markets
Singapore Exchange setting up trading hubs in Chicago and London
Healthcare
Healthcare REITs a safe shelter for investors
Property
Five-bedroom GCB is costliest home for sale
Social media
Former engineer fined S$8,500 for online posts that contained incitement to violence
UK
Insurance
Solvency II rules could convince Prudential boss to shift HQ out of London
Intellectual property
UK copyright laws must be technology neutral and based on 21st-century markets
US
Antitrust
Apple’s clout coming under scrutiny
Publishing