03 Dec 2025

Taiwan prosecutors have conducted raids at the homes of former TSMC Senior Executive Wei-Jen Lo after the chipmaker accused him of leaking trade secrets, a claim denied by his current employer, Intel. Investigators seized computers, USB drives, and other potential evidence, while a court approved the seizure of Lo's shares and real estate. Lo, who recently joined Intel after a 21-year tenure at TSMC, played a key role in advancing TSMC's 5nm, 3nm, and 2nm chip production. Intel emphasized strict confidentiality policies and denied any wrongdoing by Lo.Read more

03 Dec 2025

MUI Properties Bhd plans to acquire eight land parcels in Negeri Selangor through its subsidiary, MUI Industrial Estates, in a deal worth 605 million RGT. This acquisition aims to expand the company's industrial estate holdings and strengthen its strategic position in Selangor's growing industrial market. The parcels are anticipated to support long-term industrial projects and attract a mix of local and international investors. The move continues MUI Properties' historical strategy of investing in strategic land assets to diversify and grow its real estate portfolio.Read more

03 Dec 2025

Unite Group, a leading UK student accommodation provider, has forecast lower earnings for 2026 due to reduced student occupancy and falling rental income. The company's shares fell to their lowest in over a decade following the announcement. The outlook reflects a broader trend in the sector, including a decline in Chinese postgraduate tenants and rising operational costs. Despite the challenges, Unite recently completed a GBP 634 million (USD 839.48 million) acquisition of Empiric Student Property, while anticipating moderate rental growth and slightly lower occupancy in the upcoming academic year.Read more

03 Dec 2025

The Czech Central Bank has advised lenders to adopt stricter limits on mortgages for investment properties as part of its latest financial stability review. It recommended reducing loan-to-value ratios to 70% -compared with the standard 80% for regular home loans-and capping borrower debt at seven times annual income instead of eight. The move comes amid strong property price growth, driven by limited supply and high investor demand, with values recording double-digit increases over the past year. Board member Jakub Seidler said the guidance targets a small segment of the market to prevent early vulnerabilities. Other mortgage rules remain unchanged, and the banking sector continues to show strong capital buffers and resilience.Read more

02 Dec 2025

Hong Kong's retail sector showed steady growth in October, with retail sales by value rising 6.9% year-on-year to HKD 35.2 billion (USD 4.52 billion), marking six months of consecutive gains. Sales volume increased 5.3%, while overall retail value for the first ten months remained stable despite a slight 1.5% volume decline. Visitor arrivals surged to 4.59 million, with Mainland Chinese tourists contributing significantly. Jewellery and luxury goods saw strong sales, while clothing and footwear rebounded modestly. Government officials expect continued support for retail from rising visitor numbers and improving local consumer sentiment.Read more

02 Dec 2025

Target Healthcare REIT has acquired three care homes for GBP 45 million, reinforcing its strategy of expanding in the healthcare property sector. The deal includes a forward commitment, supporting long-term rental income and growth potential. The REIT continues to focus on operationally efficient, high-quality care homes across the UK, targeting assets that meet regulatory standards and market needs. With the demand for well-managed care facilities rising due to an aging population, such acquisitions are expected to provide stable returns. This purchase adds to the company's consistent record of strategic, income-generating healthcare investments.Read more

02 Dec 2025

Cardinal Infrastructure Group indicated earlier this week that it planned to secure a valuation exceeding USD 805 million through its forthcoming US IPO, marking one of the final major listings in the year-end window. The offering, which follows a revived US IPO market despite recent political gridlock in Washington, is set to raise as much as USD 253 million. The company expects renewed market confidence-driven by rising equities and easing interest rates-to support investor demand. Its prospectus reflected strong backing from residential builders, who accounted for nearly 71% of its revenue over the past year.Read more

02 Dec 2025

Britain will introduce an annual tax on residential properties valued over 2 million pounds starting April 2028. The surcharge, on top of current local taxes, will range from 2,500 pounds for homes in the 2-2.5 million band to 7,500 pounds for properties valued above 5 million pounds. Valuations will use 2026 prices and will be annually adjusted for inflation. The policy is expected to raise 0.4 billion GBP by 2029 30 and targets high value homeowners, marking the UK's return to discussions around a 'mansion tax.'Read more

02 Dec 2025

Australia's banking regulator, APRA, has announced that from February it will restrict high debt-to-income (DTI) home loans to curb financial risks. Under the new rule, banks can issue no more than 20% of new mortgages where the borrower's debt is six times or more than their income. The cap applies to both owner-occupied and investor loans, excluding new construction loans. This follows a sharp increase in investor lending and housing prices. Currently, 10% of investor loans and 4% of owner-occupied loans exceed the threshold, raising concerns over potential market instability.Read more

02 Dec 2025

Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki indicated that restarting the Tomari nuclear power plant is now viewed as a practical possibility, following regulatory approval and ongoing assessments. He said he would reach a final decision after site inspections and consultations with nearby municipalities. The plant's No. 3 reactor, inactive since 2012, recently cleared its safety review after a 12-year process. Hokkaido Electric is also preparing additional safety infrastructure, including a seawall scheduled for completion in March 2027. The move aligns with Japan's broader efforts to stabilise energy supply, similar to the partial restart recently permitted at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata.Read more