STI        3,368     +6      +0.18%
DOW    14,701   -139   -0.94%
S&P       1,583      -15    -0.91%
FTSE       6,451     +21    +0.32%
DAX        7,914     +41    +0.51%
GOLD     1,455      +9       +0.61%
OIL         90.86       -0.17   -0.19%
PRE-HK OPEN   +24pts
 
CREDIT SUISSE GLOBAL RISK APPETITE (EQUITY):  -0.58 (30 Apr 2013)
CREDIT SUISSE GLOBAL RISK APPETITE               :    2.94 (30 Apr 2013)
 
DJ MARKET COMMENT: Singapore Shares Could Fall On Gloomy US,China Data

0057 GMT [Dow Jones] Singapore shares could open lower after disappointing U.S. and Chinese manufacturing data could prompt traders to trim positions after five straight days of gains. If that weren't enough, "the U.S. ADP employment report also suggests that (Friday's) nonfarm payrolls is likely to surprise on the downside. This negative sentiment is likely to weigh on the Asian session today," writes Phillip Securities macro analyst Ng Weiwen in a note. On Tuesday, the STI rose 0.2% to 3368.18. (Markets were closed Wednesday for the Labor Day holiday). On specific stocks to watch, DBS Group Holdings Ltd. (D05.SG) could rise after it reported a 2% rise in 1Q net profit, beating market expectations. United Overseas Bank Ltd. (U11.SG) reports 1Q earnings after the market's close
*DJ DBS 1st-Quarter Net Rises 2% to S$950 Million

 
May 01, 2013 20:31 ET (00:31 GMT)
DJ Ascott REIT: To Buy Properties in China, Japan for S$287 Mln

SINGAPORE--Ascott Residence Trust (A68U.SG), or Ascott REIT, has agreed to buy three serviced residences in China and 11 residential rental properties in Japan for a total of S$287.4 million, it said on Thursday.
It will buy Citadines Biyun Shanghai and Somerset Heping Shenyang for about S$63.2 million and S$86.2 million, respectively, from Ascott Serviced Residence (China) Fund in which The Ascott Ltd. holds a 36.1% stake, Ascott REIT said. It will also buy Citadines Xinghai Suzhou from Ascott for about S$23.2 million, the company said in a statement.
Ascott REIT will acquire 11 rental housing properties in Japan for about S$114.8 million from ACRJ3 Pte. Ltd., an 88.9% owned subsidiary of Ascott.