Economic and sector News

Singapore's corporate bond market saw a record volume of US$26.9 billion bonds issued so far this year, partly driven by booming demand from private banking investors and a strong currency, Thomson Reuters data shows. The volume of bonds issued more than doubled from US$12.4 billion in the first nine months of 2011, the data shows. Total bond proceeds jumped 214.5 per cent to a record US$12.2 billion in the third quarter of this year as of Sept 24 over the third quarter of 2011.(BT)

JTC Corporation (JTC) is launching three industrial sites for sale by tender on Sept 28. The sites are being offered through the confirmed list of the Industrial Government Land Sales Programme. The three plots on offer are at Serangoon North Avenue 5 and Tuas South Street 8. The tender closes at 11 am, Nov 23, 2012.(BT)

The Housing Development Board (HDB) is increasing new flat supply this year to 27,000 with the launch of 7,055 units under the joint Built-to-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) programme. This is 2,000 units more than the 25,000 units originally planned for the year, and will help meet housing demand especially from first-time home buyers, said HDB. Seven BTO projects offering 3,727 flats in two non-mature towns (Choa Chu Kang and Woodlands) and three mature towns (Ang Mo Kio, Kallang Whampoa, and Tampines) were launched. First-timers will enjoy priority flat allocation, with at least 95 per cent and 85 per cent of the BTO flat supply - excluding Studio Apartments (SA) - set aside for them in mature towns and non-mature towns respectively. BT)