-- Japan's real wages in March edged up 1% from the same month a year earlier, resuming the upward trend over the past two months, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Friday.
The growth of real wages is considered essential for Japan to fully recover from its prolonged battle against deflation.
Nominal wages, the average total monthly cash earnings per worker, including base, grew 1.6%, according to the government data. Overtime pay also gained 1.9%.
GenusPlus Group (ASX:GNP) said that the TasNetworks confirmed the final investment decision for the construction phase of the first stage of North West Transmission Developments in Tasmania, according to a Friday Australian bourse filing.The project financing requirements include debt funding of up to AU$1.2 billion from Clean Energy Finance and equity funding secured from the Tasmanian Government.GenusPlus expects the construction phase to start in the September quarter, per the filing.The issuing of the notice to proceed is subject to conditions, including the satisfaction of Tasmanian Planning Commission's permit conditions and the resolution of permit proceedings before the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the filing said.
Singapore's Minister for National Development, Chee Hong Tat, outlined plans to discourage flipping of some homes, Bloomberg News reported Friday.The regulator is looking to introduce measures aimed at executive condominiums, the minimum occupation period of which will be doubled to 10 years, the report said.Under the new rules, buyers of executive condos will be required to go through the minimum occupation period before renting out the unit, selling it, or purchasing another home, the report noted.The new rules will be implemented to ease speculation in the city-state's real estate market and to improve profitability, according to the report.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
Raffles Education (SGX:NR7) booked a profit after tax of SG$21.1 million in the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, against a loss of SG890,000 a year earlier, according to a Thursday filing with the Singapore Exchange.Shares of the education services provider were up over 2% in Friday trading.Revenue declined 14% year over year to SG$24.5 million from SG$28.5 million.