Monthly Archives: August 2009

Bursting the bubble rumours

OVERNIGHT queues, balloting, midnight crowds – these dramatic scenes at the Optima condominium at Tanah Merah recently were precursors to the 270 apartments selling out in three days, and fuelling concerns that a property bubble may be brewing in Singapore.

Industry players have largely shrugged off such concerns – attributing the recent property effervescence to pent-up demand, peak public housing prices, excess liquidity and a growing population.

However, Today’s checks on the ground reveal a less simplistic picture – one with buyers signing on the dotted line without even viewing the showflats, buyers asking agents to sell a property right after purchase; and irrational decisions.

While these instances are, by and large, uncommon, their very existence is proof of unhealthy streaks in the market.

The buyers (speculators included), said agents, are split between those who already own HDB flats and those who are holding onto private Continue reading

Wing Tai posts loss of $53.9m in Q4

Results hit by $109.7m fair value losses on investment properties

WING Tai Holdings yesterday reported a net loss of $53.9 million for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2009, as it booked fair value losses of $109.7 million on its investment properties. Net profit in the same three months a year ago was $96.3 million.

Revenue in the three months, however, rose 78 per cent to $191.5 million, from $107.3 million in Q4 2008.

The fair value loss also hit the developer’s full-year results. Net profit for financial year 2009 fell 91 per cent to $21.0 million, from $229.4 million for FY2008. Excluding the fair value losses on investment properties, the net profit of the group would have been $108.9 million in FY2009, compared with $157.8 million in the previous year, Wing Tai said.

Revenue for the full year rose 18 per cent to $507.3 million, from $428.2 million in the previous year, boosted by progressive sales recognised from Continue reading