News Today

Investors go the whole hog, pushing STI to new record
INVESTORS could barely wait to get back to business on the first trading day of the Year of the Pig yesterday, immediately propelling the local bourse to yet another all-time high. The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) ended yesterday at its... [Read more]

Ex-detainee Ho Toon Chin dies in London
FORMER political detainee Ho Toon Chin died in London on Tuesday from a stroke. He was 70.Mr Ho was a manager in a small media company, said his undergraduate son Hehao, 21, yesterday, declining to disclose its name.He had a stroke... [Read more]

Thailand steps up security for match against S'pore
BANGKOK - BOMB detectors, police dogs and some 500 police officers will be deployed tomorrow when Singapore meets Thailand in the Asean Cup final. 'There will be a special area for the 2,000 Singaporean fans expected, and they will be separated... [Read more]

Blair's top fund-raiser rearrested while on bail
THE top fund-raiser for British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Party was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, a police source said.Lord Michael Levy was arrested when he returned to a London police station... [Read more]

Keppel issues in demand after record annual profits
WARRANTS on Keppel Corp are now the flavour of the week, after the conglomerate's better-than-expected full-year results released on Tuesday.Keppel's net profit rose 33 per cent to a record $750.8 million, outperforming analysts' expectations.Warrants on stocks such as Keppel allow investors... [Read more]

Tonight's Headlines
Retirement planning low on S'poreans' priority listMOST Singaporeans are prepared for short-term financial emergencies and big expenses such as their mortgage and children's education. However, such planning falls well short in other areas like retirement.Those were the key findings of a... [Read more]

Group pays $884m for rest of Marina plot
THE consortium that is developing the prime Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) has disclosed the sum - $883.8 million - that it is paying for the second phase of the site, on nearby land. And for the first time, the consortium,... [Read more]

Brokers' Choice
MERRILL EXPECTS CDL TO SET UP OFFICE REIT MERRILL Lynch believes that City Developments (CDL) 'will look to establish an office Reit this year, following its successful initial public offer of CDL Hospitality Trusts', referring to a real estate investment trust.... [Read more]

Old Changi hospital gets new life as spa-resort
THE former Changi Hospital will undergo a $20-million makeover to become a rustic spa and resort for Singaporeans and budget travellers by year's end. Property company Bestway Properties, which won a recent tender to lease the Halton Road site, wants to... [Read more]

Killer molested his high school hostages
He sexually assaulted some of the six girls before killing one and then himselfBAILEY (COLORADO) - THE gunman who killed a student and committed suicide during a high school stand-off methodically selected six girls as hostages - apparently favouring blondes -... [Read more]

Wall St expects rate cut in third quarter or later
NEW YORK - ANALYSTS on Wall Street expect the United States Federal Reserve to keep interest rates on hold for some time as growth rebounds and inflation moderates, with many holding out for a rate cut later in the year. A... [Read more]