Dell Singapore today announces that it will be the main provider of enterprise server solutions for Resorts World at Sentosa, slated to be Asia’s leading family destination. The deal includes supplying and installing Dell’s range of PowerEdge servers in various capacities across Resorts World at Sentosa’s operations.
“Resorts World at Sentosa is set to be a global attraction for Singapore and we are very excited and proud that our solutions will be powering their operations,” said Tan Teng Cheong, General Manager – Dell Singapore. “Given that Dell is continuously simplifying IT for our customers, we want to help Resorts World at Sentosa focus on innovation while keeping their peace of mind on the IT infrastructure.”
Resorts World at Sentosa is a collection of resorts and attractions with a plethora of fun-filled offerings for the entire family. Spanning 49 hectares, the mega-resort houses Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium and the region’s first integrated destination spa. It also boasts some 1,800 rooms, spread across its six hotels of varying themes, with full conference and meeting amenities. It is expected to start operations in early 2010.
“As we continue to build a solid foundation for our IT infrastructure, it is important for us to have reliable systems in place and I believe that Dell has the right solution to meet our needs,” said Mr Yap Chee Yuen, Senior Vice President, Information Technology, Resorts World at Sentosa. “As we get ready to start operations in early 2010, I’m confident that the Dell team will deliver with speed and finesse.”
The first batch of server solution is already in place at Resorts World at Sentosa and the project is expected to take three years to complete.
Source
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Singapore's first casino complex takes shape
The tiny city state of Singapore at the tip of the Malay Peninsula currently boasts what is probably Asia's largest construction site. Despite the global economic downturn, workers toil here around the clock, seven days a week, to build Singapore's first casino complex.
The Marina Bay Sands is scheduled to open in December and apart from the casino proper it will comprise a convention and exhibition centre, some 300 shops and luxury boutiques, a museum and three hotel towers, each of them 200 metres high, with a combined 2,600 beds.
"We are of course fully aware of the current economic crisis, but this is simply a unique project," said Bradley Stone, who not only oversees the Singapore property but is also responsible for other projects around the world for the US-based casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp.
"Singapore is already well known as a (tourist) destination and has a world class infrastructure, thus we are very bullish that there is lots of interest (in the casino)," Stone added.
The financial crunch had almost bankrupted Las Vegas Sands at one point, but overhead slashing, debt consolidation and selling off some properties saved the day for the firm.
While the company froze some projects in Macau, the Singapore project will go ahead as planned, costing an estimated $5.5 billion.
The complex is being erected on a piece of reclaimed land on the shoreline of Singapore.
The hotel towers with 59 storeys are about half erected, and the view from the 21st floor of the construction is already magnificent, with Singapore's skyline in the north and across the ocean in the south.
"Some 7,500 workers are employed on the construction site every day," explained Austrian national Rudy Betschoga, senior construction manager for Marina Bay Sands.
Although the foundations were only laid in 2007, the four-storey casino building as well as the convention centre, which incorporates a rooftop ballroom that can accommodate 6,600 guests, will soon receive their roofs.
The three hotel towers will be linked by a massive glassed-in atrium. "It is so high that it could easily hold the Statue of Liberty," explained Betschoga.
But the masterpiece of architect Moshe Safdie is without doubt the open-air sky park that will straddle the roofs of the hotel towers.
It will harbour some 600 palm and other trees and a 146-metre-long swimming pool. On the western side, the platform will protrude a full 65 metres over thin air, theoretically enough to park an A380 Airbus.
For the small city state of Singapore the project has created public enthusiasm because of the 30,000 new jobs it will create.
The 40-year ban on casino gambling was lifted in 2005, and Marina Bay Sands will become the first of two planned casinos.
The government is to charge high entry fees in an attempt to keep locals away, but guests from the Middle East, Russia and the rest of gambling-crazy Asia will be welcomed with open arms.
"When the going gets tough we all go gambling, it's the Chinese way," said an ethnic-Chinese newspaper reporter, who has no doubts about the success of the casino.
Sands Corp's Bradley Stone admitted that he also gambles occasionally.
"After all, I have to know what kind of thrills our future customers are going to seek," he said.
Source
The Marina Bay Sands is scheduled to open in December and apart from the casino proper it will comprise a convention and exhibition centre, some 300 shops and luxury boutiques, a museum and three hotel towers, each of them 200 metres high, with a combined 2,600 beds.
"We are of course fully aware of the current economic crisis, but this is simply a unique project," said Bradley Stone, who not only oversees the Singapore property but is also responsible for other projects around the world for the US-based casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp.
"Singapore is already well known as a (tourist) destination and has a world class infrastructure, thus we are very bullish that there is lots of interest (in the casino)," Stone added.
The financial crunch had almost bankrupted Las Vegas Sands at one point, but overhead slashing, debt consolidation and selling off some properties saved the day for the firm.
While the company froze some projects in Macau, the Singapore project will go ahead as planned, costing an estimated $5.5 billion.
The complex is being erected on a piece of reclaimed land on the shoreline of Singapore.
The hotel towers with 59 storeys are about half erected, and the view from the 21st floor of the construction is already magnificent, with Singapore's skyline in the north and across the ocean in the south.
"Some 7,500 workers are employed on the construction site every day," explained Austrian national Rudy Betschoga, senior construction manager for Marina Bay Sands.
Although the foundations were only laid in 2007, the four-storey casino building as well as the convention centre, which incorporates a rooftop ballroom that can accommodate 6,600 guests, will soon receive their roofs.
The three hotel towers will be linked by a massive glassed-in atrium. "It is so high that it could easily hold the Statue of Liberty," explained Betschoga.
But the masterpiece of architect Moshe Safdie is without doubt the open-air sky park that will straddle the roofs of the hotel towers.
It will harbour some 600 palm and other trees and a 146-metre-long swimming pool. On the western side, the platform will protrude a full 65 metres over thin air, theoretically enough to park an A380 Airbus.
For the small city state of Singapore the project has created public enthusiasm because of the 30,000 new jobs it will create.
The 40-year ban on casino gambling was lifted in 2005, and Marina Bay Sands will become the first of two planned casinos.
The government is to charge high entry fees in an attempt to keep locals away, but guests from the Middle East, Russia and the rest of gambling-crazy Asia will be welcomed with open arms.
"When the going gets tough we all go gambling, it's the Chinese way," said an ethnic-Chinese newspaper reporter, who has no doubts about the success of the casino.
Sands Corp's Bradley Stone admitted that he also gambles occasionally.
"After all, I have to know what kind of thrills our future customers are going to seek," he said.
Source
Campaigners Try To Stop Whale Sharks Being Used In Casino Aquarium
Welfare groups started an online campaign to stop a Singapore casino developer importing whale sharks for an elaborate aquarium.A facebook group called ‘Say NO to Whale Sharks in Captivity’ has been set up and is calling for people to sign an online petition to stop the casino putting whale sharks into captivity.
Resorts World at Sentosa is building a $14bn (£10bn) super-casino, which will house the worlds largest marine park.The oceanarium will hold over 700,000 fish in 20 million gallons (76 million litres) of water, Resorts World at Sentosa said on its website.
But seven animal welfare groups, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, believe the facility is not suitable for animals of this size."
No man-made environment, no matter how large, could accommodate the needs of a whale shark," they said in a statement."Whale sharks can dive up to 980 metres (3,234 feet) and migrate over 13,000 kilometres (8,060 miles) and evidence has shown that they fare poorly in captivity."Resorts World at Sentosa has said its casino project is scheduled to open in early 2010.
Source
Resorts World at Sentosa is building a $14bn (£10bn) super-casino, which will house the worlds largest marine park.The oceanarium will hold over 700,000 fish in 20 million gallons (76 million litres) of water, Resorts World at Sentosa said on its website.
But seven animal welfare groups, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, believe the facility is not suitable for animals of this size."
No man-made environment, no matter how large, could accommodate the needs of a whale shark," they said in a statement."Whale sharks can dive up to 980 metres (3,234 feet) and migrate over 13,000 kilometres (8,060 miles) and evidence has shown that they fare poorly in captivity."Resorts World at Sentosa has said its casino project is scheduled to open in early 2010.
Source
$190-million IR to be built in Batam
FIRST, there was one for Bintan. Now, a second integrated resort will be built in the Riau islands close to Singapore — this one on Batam.
The Jakarta Post has reported that a 15-hectare integrated tourism and business resort that is worth 1.5 trillion rupiah($193 million) will be completed in 2011, with construction set to begin next month.
According to the company behind the project, PT Grand Uway Development, the tourism development will have an international water park, a condominium hotel and a convention centre with capacity for 6,000 people.
The resort is considerably smaller than the 49-hectare Resorts World at Sentosa being built by Genting International, which will also have a water park with rides, but appears to be pitched for the Meetings,Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (Mice) trade that the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is targeting.
According to the Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s Culture and Tourism Ministry has designated Batam as the Mice city.
In comparison, the Sands is situated on a 20.6-hectare site with a convention area that can host 45,000 people.
Talk of competition for Singapore’s IRs from Bintan and Batam began after the authorities here awarded two licences in 2005. Malaysian developer Landmarks, whose biggest shareholder is Genting, is already building Bintan Treasure Bay, a huge 343-hectare IR.
But while the Bintan IR is still seeking approval for a casino element, there was no mention of gambling at the latest one in Batam, which will be located in the Batam Center area and will be run by international property management Aston International, the Jakarta Post reported.
Source
The Jakarta Post has reported that a 15-hectare integrated tourism and business resort that is worth 1.5 trillion rupiah($193 million) will be completed in 2011, with construction set to begin next month.
According to the company behind the project, PT Grand Uway Development, the tourism development will have an international water park, a condominium hotel and a convention centre with capacity for 6,000 people.
The resort is considerably smaller than the 49-hectare Resorts World at Sentosa being built by Genting International, which will also have a water park with rides, but appears to be pitched for the Meetings,Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (Mice) trade that the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is targeting.
According to the Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s Culture and Tourism Ministry has designated Batam as the Mice city.
In comparison, the Sands is situated on a 20.6-hectare site with a convention area that can host 45,000 people.
Talk of competition for Singapore’s IRs from Bintan and Batam began after the authorities here awarded two licences in 2005. Malaysian developer Landmarks, whose biggest shareholder is Genting, is already building Bintan Treasure Bay, a huge 343-hectare IR.
But while the Bintan IR is still seeking approval for a casino element, there was no mention of gambling at the latest one in Batam, which will be located in the Batam Center area and will be run by international property management Aston International, the Jakarta Post reported.
Source
Thursday, March 5, 2009
疯狂扩张耗尽现金 博彩巨头金沙市值跌去96%
开赌场就好比印银纸（钞票），哪有可能会穷。”被誉为澳门赌王的何鸿燊，2月8日向媒体如此回应《福布斯》杂志指其身家因金融海啸缩水九成的判断。
一度与何鸿燊隔空对骂的谢尔登·阿德尔森（SheldonAdelson），未必能欣赏前者的幽默。
阿德尔森一手创办的美国博彩业旗舰——拉斯维加斯金沙集团（NYSE：LVS，下文简称“金沙集团”），在寰球博彩业的景气高峰时，分别于中国澳门、新加坡与美国本土启动了耗资巨大的项目投资。但当银行于2008年9月后停止拆借，金沙集团宏伟的三地扩张计划顿时陷入融资困境，一路下滑的股价更令其信贷违约率大幅飙升。
豪赌狮城金沙集团只能收缩战线
1月28日，澳门金光大道，除了熙熙攘攘、前往澳门威尼斯人与落成不久的澳门四季酒店的游客外，伫立在威尼斯人这幢亚洲第二大单体建筑物对面的金光大道第五、第六期工程，也让人无法忽视。
这个庞大的建筑工程，是为容纳喜来登、香格里拉等四家五星级酒店而兴建的，外观看来已经封顶。但自去年11月，随着近一万名建筑工人被解雇，这个半成品便没有任何变化，只留下灰色的水泥钢筋外表。
金沙集团的负责人对记者表示，停工是“暂时”安排，但没有给出复工时间表。在2008年11月澳门项目停工后，金沙集团亚洲总裁StephenWeaver表示，若要继续发展澳门威尼斯人第五、第六期工程，需另外再融资15亿－20亿美元，但额外的资金何时到位难以估计。他强调，集团目前虽已完成21.4亿美元融资，但有关资金仅用于继续支持新加坡项目。新加坡滨海湾金沙于2006年4月宣布奠基时，计划耗资36亿美元。
现金耗尽流动性危机显现
金沙集团一手酝酿的危机，与违反巴菲特所谓“恐惧与贪婪”原则的房地产商并无二致。即在经济景气高峰时，在“贪婪”的驱动下，大肆跑马圈地，同时发展数个大规模项目，但当市况逆转，却缺乏足够的“恐惧”，无法全身而退。
美国经济衰退对拉斯维加斯的酒店、博彩业的打击，金沙的股价也上演高台跳水，从2008年9月30日的36美元，下滑至10月28日的4.95美元。与2007年的股价峰值相比，金沙集团跌去了96%的市值。
标普与穆迪均迅速表示，金沙集团在澳门的现金已经耗尽，而在资产缩水的情况下，金沙的违约风险大大提升。
取舍逻辑为何牺牲澳门金光大道
新加坡则拥有更值得下注的基本面。“澳门只有54万人口，但新加坡有460万人口，而且54%的新加坡人承认在过去12个月曾经进行赌博，在2007年有100万新加坡人前往马来西亚云顶赌场，新加坡赛马俱乐部拥有超过7000名VIP会员，他们在每个赛马日的人均下注额高达6.5万美元。”此外，澳门的赌牌数目为6个，而新加坡只有两个，澳门的赌场多达31个，新加坡只有两个。
降低债务金沙策略是资产变现
金沙集团的总裁兼COOWilliamWeidner，在2月11日的分析师会议上介绍，集团拟定以保存和创造流动性为出发点的三大战略。“策略之一，现金流最大化策略，从拉斯维加斯与澳门的业务获得现金流；之二，在进度内完成新加坡与宾州项目，确保不超支；之三，出售非核心资产。”
他承认，公司正快速推进澳门威尼斯人以及澳门四季的商铺物业、澳门四季酒店公寓的销售。“我们明白现时的市况不是销售物业的好时机，但回笼现金是我们的重要策略。资产出售有助于降低澳门的债务，令公司降低杠杆。”
Source
一度与何鸿燊隔空对骂的谢尔登·阿德尔森（SheldonAdelson），未必能欣赏前者的幽默。
阿德尔森一手创办的美国博彩业旗舰——拉斯维加斯金沙集团（NYSE：LVS，下文简称“金沙集团”），在寰球博彩业的景气高峰时，分别于中国澳门、新加坡与美国本土启动了耗资巨大的项目投资。但当银行于2008年9月后停止拆借，金沙集团宏伟的三地扩张计划顿时陷入融资困境，一路下滑的股价更令其信贷违约率大幅飙升。
豪赌狮城金沙集团只能收缩战线
1月28日，澳门金光大道，除了熙熙攘攘、前往澳门威尼斯人与落成不久的澳门四季酒店的游客外，伫立在威尼斯人这幢亚洲第二大单体建筑物对面的金光大道第五、第六期工程，也让人无法忽视。
这个庞大的建筑工程，是为容纳喜来登、香格里拉等四家五星级酒店而兴建的，外观看来已经封顶。但自去年11月，随着近一万名建筑工人被解雇，这个半成品便没有任何变化，只留下灰色的水泥钢筋外表。
金沙集团的负责人对记者表示，停工是“暂时”安排，但没有给出复工时间表。在2008年11月澳门项目停工后，金沙集团亚洲总裁StephenWeaver表示，若要继续发展澳门威尼斯人第五、第六期工程，需另外再融资15亿－20亿美元，但额外的资金何时到位难以估计。他强调，集团目前虽已完成21.4亿美元融资，但有关资金仅用于继续支持新加坡项目。新加坡滨海湾金沙于2006年4月宣布奠基时，计划耗资36亿美元。
现金耗尽流动性危机显现
金沙集团一手酝酿的危机，与违反巴菲特所谓“恐惧与贪婪”原则的房地产商并无二致。即在经济景气高峰时，在“贪婪”的驱动下，大肆跑马圈地，同时发展数个大规模项目，但当市况逆转，却缺乏足够的“恐惧”，无法全身而退。
美国经济衰退对拉斯维加斯的酒店、博彩业的打击，金沙的股价也上演高台跳水，从2008年9月30日的36美元，下滑至10月28日的4.95美元。与2007年的股价峰值相比，金沙集团跌去了96%的市值。
标普与穆迪均迅速表示，金沙集团在澳门的现金已经耗尽，而在资产缩水的情况下，金沙的违约风险大大提升。
取舍逻辑为何牺牲澳门金光大道
新加坡则拥有更值得下注的基本面。“澳门只有54万人口，但新加坡有460万人口，而且54%的新加坡人承认在过去12个月曾经进行赌博，在2007年有100万新加坡人前往马来西亚云顶赌场，新加坡赛马俱乐部拥有超过7000名VIP会员，他们在每个赛马日的人均下注额高达6.5万美元。”此外，澳门的赌牌数目为6个，而新加坡只有两个，澳门的赌场多达31个，新加坡只有两个。
降低债务金沙策略是资产变现
金沙集团的总裁兼COOWilliamWeidner，在2月11日的分析师会议上介绍，集团拟定以保存和创造流动性为出发点的三大战略。“策略之一，现金流最大化策略，从拉斯维加斯与澳门的业务获得现金流；之二，在进度内完成新加坡与宾州项目，确保不超支；之三，出售非核心资产。”
他承认，公司正快速推进澳门威尼斯人以及澳门四季的商铺物业、澳门四季酒店公寓的销售。“我们明白现时的市况不是销售物业的好时机，但回笼现金是我们的重要策略。资产出售有助于降低澳门的债务，令公司降低杠杆。”
Source
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sands Singapore resort on track for December open
Sands Singapore resort on track for December open
Las Vegas Sands Corp., which suspended construction last year at two sites in Macau, said Wednesday it's on schedule to open a $5.4 billion Singapore casino resort in December.
The casino operator said most of the 2,500-room Marina Bay Sands will be ready by the end of the year. It will be Singapore's first casino.
In addition to gambling facilities, the resort will feature an art and science museum, 300 retail stores, and three 55-story hotel towers connected at the top with a pool, restaurant and observation deck.
Last Vegas Sands is counting on the Marina Bay Sands to help boost its overall revenue and avoid a debt default. Sands, which owns the Palazzo and Venetian resorts in Las Vegas, had to shut down building in Macau after financing dried up.
"What happened in Macau certainly won't happen here in Singapore," said Bradley Stone, the company's president of global operations and construction. "This project is fully-funded."
The resort is part of Singapore's effort to develop a marina area next to downtown into an entertainment and tourist attraction. But the city-state expects tourism revenue to plunge as much as 19 percent this year as a global economic slowdown undermines spending on travel.
"We know the economic situation," said Nigel Roberts, president of Marina Bay Sands. "But we have a product that's going to be stupendous and will override that."
Source
Las Vegas Sands Corp., which suspended construction last year at two sites in Macau, said Wednesday it's on schedule to open a $5.4 billion Singapore casino resort in December.
The casino operator said most of the 2,500-room Marina Bay Sands will be ready by the end of the year. It will be Singapore's first casino.
In addition to gambling facilities, the resort will feature an art and science museum, 300 retail stores, and three 55-story hotel towers connected at the top with a pool, restaurant and observation deck.
Last Vegas Sands is counting on the Marina Bay Sands to help boost its overall revenue and avoid a debt default. Sands, which owns the Palazzo and Venetian resorts in Las Vegas, had to shut down building in Macau after financing dried up.
"What happened in Macau certainly won't happen here in Singapore," said Bradley Stone, the company's president of global operations and construction. "This project is fully-funded."
The resort is part of Singapore's effort to develop a marina area next to downtown into an entertainment and tourist attraction. But the city-state expects tourism revenue to plunge as much as 19 percent this year as a global economic slowdown undermines spending on travel.
"We know the economic situation," said Nigel Roberts, president of Marina Bay Sands. "But we have a product that's going to be stupendous and will override that."
Source
LV Sands says to open S'pore casino-resort in phases
SINGAPORE, Mar 4 (Reuters) - Las Vegas Sands said on Wednesday it will open its Singapore casino-resort in phases starting end-2009.
The company had earlier said the entire project would be up-and-running by that time.
"We are working closely with the government and will provide an update soon," said a spokeswoman for Marina Bay Sands, which is the name of the U.S. operator's $5.4 billion casino-cum-hotel resort that is under construction in Singapore.
George Tanasijevich, general manager of the Marina Bay Sands and executive in charge of the Singapore development, had earlier told reporters during a site tour that the project will be 50 percent completed by year-end.
Singapore legalised casino gaming in 2005 as part of an ambitious plan to make the city more exciting and double annual visitor arrivals to 17 million by 2015. The Marina Bay Sands, located at the edge of the central business district, will be the first of the city-state's two casinos.
The phased opening of the $5.4 billion casino-resort will, however, ease pressure on hoteliers in Singapore, where visitor arrivals fell 12.9 percent in January from a year ago due to the global economic downturn.
The average hotel room rate in Singapore fell 11.7 percent to S$209 ($135) in January, while hotel occupancy plunged to 67 percent from 85 percent a year earlier, the Singapore Tourism Board said last week.
Singapore currently has around 32,000 hotel rooms and the upcoming Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa will add over 4,000 rooms to the total supply next year.
Marina Bay Sands officials said on Wednesday that all 2,600 hotel rooms will be open by next year, while Resorts World has said that four of its six hotels will be ready by the first quarter of 2010.
Resorts World, located on the resort-island of Sentosa, is being developed by Genting International , a unit of Malaysian casino operator Genting Bhd . When ready, the development will have around 1,800 rooms. ($1=1.551 Singapore Dollar)
The company had earlier said the entire project would be up-and-running by that time.
"We are working closely with the government and will provide an update soon," said a spokeswoman for Marina Bay Sands, which is the name of the U.S. operator's $5.4 billion casino-cum-hotel resort that is under construction in Singapore.
George Tanasijevich, general manager of the Marina Bay Sands and executive in charge of the Singapore development, had earlier told reporters during a site tour that the project will be 50 percent completed by year-end.
Singapore legalised casino gaming in 2005 as part of an ambitious plan to make the city more exciting and double annual visitor arrivals to 17 million by 2015. The Marina Bay Sands, located at the edge of the central business district, will be the first of the city-state's two casinos.
The phased opening of the $5.4 billion casino-resort will, however, ease pressure on hoteliers in Singapore, where visitor arrivals fell 12.9 percent in January from a year ago due to the global economic downturn.
The average hotel room rate in Singapore fell 11.7 percent to S$209 ($135) in January, while hotel occupancy plunged to 67 percent from 85 percent a year earlier, the Singapore Tourism Board said last week.
Singapore currently has around 32,000 hotel rooms and the upcoming Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa will add over 4,000 rooms to the total supply next year.
Marina Bay Sands officials said on Wednesday that all 2,600 hotel rooms will be open by next year, while Resorts World has said that four of its six hotels will be ready by the first quarter of 2010.
Resorts World, located on the resort-island of Sentosa, is being developed by Genting International , a unit of Malaysian casino operator Genting Bhd . When ready, the development will have around 1,800 rooms. ($1=1.551 Singapore Dollar)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Cable cars may replace free buses on Sentosa
ZIPPING around Sentosa Island will be made easier from 2011 with the launch of a new cable car service.
The new transport link may replace the present free intra-island bus service.
The above-ground system is part of Sentosa Leisure Group's (SLG) over $250 million plan to overhaul the transport system on the island to ensure that it can handle the crowds when Resorts World at Sentosa opens next year.
Currently, Sentosa receives up to 30,000 visitors daily during the peak season. But that number is expected to rise to over 100,000 people daily with the opening of Singapore's second integrated resort.
Mr Lee Chin Chuan, director of SLG's property business development, said the cable car system will offer a greener way of travel compared to the current diesel-powered bus fleet.
The new cableway system will be at most six to seven storeys tall, a third of the height of the current cable car system which runs from Mount Faber.
It is expected to take anything from 1,400 to 5,000 passengers per hour in one direction, moving at speeds of 4m to 6m a second. It will also offer express waiting times of 12 seconds to 15 seconds instead of two minutes to three minutes for the monorail and 10 minutes to 15 minutes for the bus.
Currently, four stations have been earmarked. Mr Lee did not discount the possibility of rolling out the system to the rest of the island or even to the mainland.
The cost of the project is not known yet. SLG has hired consultants to help determine the system's capacity and cost.
One other unknown: whether visitors will be charged for rides. SLG is still mulling over this.
The group is also exploring other possibilities like electric trams, mini railways and buggies.
Plans to boost links to the island include an $80 million, 710m-long second bridge, being built by the casino-resort and expected to be ready by the third quarter of this year.
SLG has invested $25 million to build a new depot extension and to buy two cars to raise the capacity of the monorail from 3,000 to 4,000 passengers per hour.
It is also building a new boardwalk so pedestrians can walk to the resort island. Construction of the walkway is slated to begin in the second half of this year. It will have travellators like those in the airport to ease the 620m walk.
Teacher Chai Jiamin, 27, welcomed the new moves. She used to play beach volleyball at Sentosa regularly, but said that on weekends, traffic congestion can get really bad.
However, other regulars like 26-year-old Benjamin Lau, who runs his own IT business, said replacing the free buses with a paid cable car will not benefit visitors.
He said: 'I don't think it's practical to invest in a cable car system when there are already free bus and trams serving Sentosa.'
SLG's Mr Lee added that another key reason that is driving Sentosa's search for new modes of transport is to minimise the system's emissions and carbon footprint.
Source
The new transport link may replace the present free intra-island bus service.
The above-ground system is part of Sentosa Leisure Group's (SLG) over $250 million plan to overhaul the transport system on the island to ensure that it can handle the crowds when Resorts World at Sentosa opens next year.
Currently, Sentosa receives up to 30,000 visitors daily during the peak season. But that number is expected to rise to over 100,000 people daily with the opening of Singapore's second integrated resort.
Mr Lee Chin Chuan, director of SLG's property business development, said the cable car system will offer a greener way of travel compared to the current diesel-powered bus fleet.
The new cableway system will be at most six to seven storeys tall, a third of the height of the current cable car system which runs from Mount Faber.
It is expected to take anything from 1,400 to 5,000 passengers per hour in one direction, moving at speeds of 4m to 6m a second. It will also offer express waiting times of 12 seconds to 15 seconds instead of two minutes to three minutes for the monorail and 10 minutes to 15 minutes for the bus.
Currently, four stations have been earmarked. Mr Lee did not discount the possibility of rolling out the system to the rest of the island or even to the mainland.
The cost of the project is not known yet. SLG has hired consultants to help determine the system's capacity and cost.
One other unknown: whether visitors will be charged for rides. SLG is still mulling over this.
The group is also exploring other possibilities like electric trams, mini railways and buggies.
Plans to boost links to the island include an $80 million, 710m-long second bridge, being built by the casino-resort and expected to be ready by the third quarter of this year.
SLG has invested $25 million to build a new depot extension and to buy two cars to raise the capacity of the monorail from 3,000 to 4,000 passengers per hour.
It is also building a new boardwalk so pedestrians can walk to the resort island. Construction of the walkway is slated to begin in the second half of this year. It will have travellators like those in the airport to ease the 620m walk.
Teacher Chai Jiamin, 27, welcomed the new moves. She used to play beach volleyball at Sentosa regularly, but said that on weekends, traffic congestion can get really bad.
However, other regulars like 26-year-old Benjamin Lau, who runs his own IT business, said replacing the free buses with a paid cable car will not benefit visitors.
He said: 'I don't think it's practical to invest in a cable car system when there are already free bus and trams serving Sentosa.'
SLG's Mr Lee added that another key reason that is driving Sentosa's search for new modes of transport is to minimise the system's emissions and carbon footprint.
Source
IRs to recruit casino staff Thur
SINGAPOREANS wishing to try their hand at dealing cards at a casino can apply for jobs this week at the two upcoming integrated resorts.
Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands will both kick off their first recruitment drive for gaming staff, together with other non-gaming positions, at the Career 2009 & Education 2009 fair starting Thursday.
The gaming positions available include dealers, pit supervisors and surveillance operators.
Ms Seah-Khoo Ee Boon, RWS' senior vice-president for human resources and training said hiring for some positions like the casino and Universal Studios theme park has to start earlier as more training may be required.
She added that up to six months will be set aside to prepare staff for the work at the resorts expected to attract thousands of punters when their doors open.
One fifth of the 800 jobs on offer by RWS will be for the casino with the rest for other areas including technical services, IT, human resource and resort services.
Marina Bay Sands' president Nigel Roberts said it has 'thousands of jobs' on offer but did not specify the total number or proportion of jobs available.
Both IRs said they are looking for people with an 'innate passion and motivation to serve'.
For those who wish to try for a casino job, Marina Bay Sands said it does not require new hires to go through formal casino training as in-house training will be provided.
Source
Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands will both kick off their first recruitment drive for gaming staff, together with other non-gaming positions, at the Career 2009 & Education 2009 fair starting Thursday.
The gaming positions available include dealers, pit supervisors and surveillance operators.
Ms Seah-Khoo Ee Boon, RWS' senior vice-president for human resources and training said hiring for some positions like the casino and Universal Studios theme park has to start earlier as more training may be required.
She added that up to six months will be set aside to prepare staff for the work at the resorts expected to attract thousands of punters when their doors open.
One fifth of the 800 jobs on offer by RWS will be for the casino with the rest for other areas including technical services, IT, human resource and resort services.
Marina Bay Sands' president Nigel Roberts said it has 'thousands of jobs' on offer but did not specify the total number or proportion of jobs available.
Both IRs said they are looking for people with an 'innate passion and motivation to serve'.
For those who wish to try for a casino job, Marina Bay Sands said it does not require new hires to go through formal casino training as in-house training will be provided.
Source
Saturday, February 28, 2009
新加坡股市27日收盘跌至五年多来最低点位
[世华财讯]受投资者的紧张情绪所累，新加坡股市27日收盘跌至五年多来最低点位。
综合外电2月27日报道，因投资者的紧张情绪再度困扰市场，新加坡股市27日收盘下挫。
Saturday, February 21, 2009
增加圣淘沙IR投资额 云顶股价在新马齐跌
吉隆坡讯）云顶（Genting）在新加坡的圣淘沙名胜世界投资额增加6亿新元，将影响到今年的盈利后，股价昨天在吉隆坡股市下跌4仙至3.58令吉。
云顶国际（Genting International）前天说，它的综合渡假胜地的投资额将从60亿元增加至65亿9000万元，将对今年的盈利产生重大的冲击。
马来亚投资银行在昨天的报告中说，由于环球经济衰退，云顶现在预计来自新加坡项目的内部回收率（internal rate of return），将从之前的15％降低至介于13到14％。
马来亚投资银行已将云顶的目标价格从4.80令吉降低到4.30令吉。
云顶国际前天说，新加坡的赌场将如期在2010年初开张，至今该项目已发出超过45亿新元的建筑合同。
在新加坡上市的云顶国际的股价昨天也下跌半分或1.2％，至42新分。
云顶国际第四季持续蒙受净亏，但净亏幅度进一步缩小，归功于英国赌场没有注销减记，这对下周公佈的云顶全年业绩有正面作用。
联昌研究指出，英国子公司云顶史坦利去年第四季，没作资产减记是一项正面发展，此公司去年第三季出现1亿零80万新元的一次过商誉减记，扩大母公司云顶国际的净亏损水平。
云顶国际尽管去年第四季出现亏损，但分析员认为这不会为母公司云顶的第四季財报，带来一次过减损项目，对云顶的净利表现而言是利好效应。
达证券將一些营运收入项目，重新列为云顶核心盈利项目，因此上调2008財政年核心盈利至13亿令吉，较早前为11亿令吉，全年净利作9亿7020万令吉。
Source
云顶国际（Genting International）前天说，它的综合渡假胜地的投资额将从60亿元增加至65亿9000万元，将对今年的盈利产生重大的冲击。
马来亚投资银行在昨天的报告中说，由于环球经济衰退，云顶现在预计来自新加坡项目的内部回收率（internal rate of return），将从之前的15％降低至介于13到14％。
马来亚投资银行已将云顶的目标价格从4.80令吉降低到4.30令吉。
云顶国际前天说，新加坡的赌场将如期在2010年初开张，至今该项目已发出超过45亿新元的建筑合同。
在新加坡上市的云顶国际的股价昨天也下跌半分或1.2％，至42新分。
云顶国际第四季持续蒙受净亏，但净亏幅度进一步缩小，归功于英国赌场没有注销减记，这对下周公佈的云顶全年业绩有正面作用。
联昌研究指出，英国子公司云顶史坦利去年第四季，没作资产减记是一项正面发展，此公司去年第三季出现1亿零80万新元的一次过商誉减记，扩大母公司云顶国际的净亏损水平。
云顶国际尽管去年第四季出现亏损，但分析员认为这不会为母公司云顶的第四季財报，带来一次过减损项目，对云顶的净利表现而言是利好效应。
达证券將一些营运收入项目，重新列为云顶核心盈利项目，因此上调2008財政年核心盈利至13亿令吉，较早前为11亿令吉，全年净利作9亿7020万令吉。
Source
Singapore: Genting Narrows Net Loss To $125m
SINGAPORE: Genting International said Thursday (19 Feb) its full-year net loss narrowed to $124.8 million from $381.4 million, but warned that it will be incurring substantial costs for the Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS) development.
It also said the development is expected to have a 'significant impact' on earnings this financial year.
The group assured investors yesterday that financing for the integrated resort (IR) 'is in place' after it obtained a $4 billion credit facility last April.
Genting, which is also the largest casino operator in Britain, saw its revenue fall 14% to $643.8 million.
The company took a hit from its casino operations in Britain, where a slowing economy and a weakening pound against the Singapore dollar took their toll.
The group also experienced lower business volumes due to the global economic slowdown.
The slowdown is likely to have a material impact on disposable income, which will adversely affect its British operations, it said.
The group absorbed $100.8 million in impairment losses on intangible assets, mainly due to the general economic slowdown in Britain and the rest of the world.
Key expenses were also up, with administrative expenses rising 22% to $42.5 million.
Other operating expenses more than doubled from $15.2 million to $32.7 million.
Loss per share was 1.3 cents, down from 5.08 cents, while net asset value stood at 28.41 cents as of 31 Dec, down from 35.29 cents a year earlier.
Genting shares closed at 42.5 cents Thursday ahead of the earnings announcement, down half a cent. It has lost about 34% since a high of 64.5 cents last June.
No dividend was recommended for the year.
Source
It also said the development is expected to have a 'significant impact' on earnings this financial year.
The group assured investors yesterday that financing for the integrated resort (IR) 'is in place' after it obtained a $4 billion credit facility last April.
Genting, which is also the largest casino operator in Britain, saw its revenue fall 14% to $643.8 million.
The company took a hit from its casino operations in Britain, where a slowing economy and a weakening pound against the Singapore dollar took their toll.
The group also experienced lower business volumes due to the global economic slowdown.
The slowdown is likely to have a material impact on disposable income, which will adversely affect its British operations, it said.
The group absorbed $100.8 million in impairment losses on intangible assets, mainly due to the general economic slowdown in Britain and the rest of the world.
Key expenses were also up, with administrative expenses rising 22% to $42.5 million.
Other operating expenses more than doubled from $15.2 million to $32.7 million.
Loss per share was 1.3 cents, down from 5.08 cents, while net asset value stood at 28.41 cents as of 31 Dec, down from 35.29 cents a year earlier.
Genting shares closed at 42.5 cents Thursday ahead of the earnings announcement, down half a cent. It has lost about 34% since a high of 64.5 cents last June.
No dividend was recommended for the year.
Source
Friday, February 20, 2009
Genting International released its FY08 results yesterday
Genting International released its FY08 results yesterday. The group reported a net loss of S$124.8m versus a net loss of S$381.5m in the previous year. Lower earnings were attributed to Genting’s UK casino operations which had been adversely affected by the weaker Pound against the Singapore dollar, as well as lower business volumes.
The company also added that the cost of building a casino in theme park in Singapore has increased to S$6.6bn from S$6bn and will have a significant impact on 2009 earnings. We expect the stock to face downward pressure going forward due to the absence of any near term positive catalysts.
Source
The company also added that the cost of building a casino in theme park in Singapore has increased to S$6.6bn from S$6bn and will have a significant impact on 2009 earnings. We expect the stock to face downward pressure going forward due to the absence of any near term positive catalysts.
Source
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Resorts World at Sentosa to top out first hotel this month
SINGAPORE: Resorts World at Sentosa will top out its first hotel, Maxims Tower, by the end of this month.
The structural completion of the 11-storey hotel marks yet another major milestone in the development of the integrated resort, which remains on track for a soft opening in the first quarter of 2010.
Maxims Tower will open with three other hotels - Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel - as well as the casino, Le Vie Theatre, a 7,300-seat Grand Ballroom, and Universal Studios Singapore.
Installation of ride equipment for the many attractions at Universal Studios Singapore has also begun, with testing and commissioning of the attractions scheduled to begin in October 2009.
Source
The structural completion of the 11-storey hotel marks yet another major milestone in the development of the integrated resort, which remains on track for a soft opening in the first quarter of 2010.
Maxims Tower will open with three other hotels - Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel - as well as the casino, Le Vie Theatre, a 7,300-seat Grand Ballroom, and Universal Studios Singapore.
Installation of ride equipment for the many attractions at Universal Studios Singapore has also begun, with testing and commissioning of the attractions scheduled to begin in October 2009.
Source
Genting to invest more
GENTING International, which is building the Resorts World at Sentosa (RWS), is to invest another $590 million in the integrated resort which is due to open in early 2010.
The extra funds to be pumped in by the company, which is part of Malaysian gaming conglomerate Genting Berhad, will bring its total investment in RWS to $6.59 billion, up from $6 billion, it said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange on Thursday.
Genting said the extra investments were required because of further changes made last year aimed at increasing the appeal of the IR project.
'In the course of the past year, changes have been made to the design and architecture of the integrated resort to substantially improve its entertainment and fun offerings, including enhancements to its casino and Universal Studios Singapore,' said Genting.
'Improvements were made to the quality of interiors as well as foot traffic accessibility to retail and dining outlets.'
The group, which managed to narrow its full-year losses, said it will be incurring substantial costs on the Sentosa IR, and this is expected to have a 'significant impact'on its earnings this financial year.
Capital expenditure before the resort's opening is projected to be less than $6 billion, and hence, the additional investments will be funded by operating cash flows from the IR when it opens.
The group also assured investors that financing for the IR 'is in place', after obtaining a $4 billion credit facility in April last year.
To prepare for the IR's opening in 2010, the group 'will be incurring significant pre-opening costs as it accelerates its human resource recruitment, training and sales and marketing programmes for the integrated resort', it added.
As at the end of last year, RWS has awarded and committed more than $4.5 billion of the $6.59 billion project costs.
The resort will feature four hotels, a 7,300-seat ballroom, as well as the first Universal Studios in South-east Asia.
Genting, also the largest casino operator, reported a full-year net loss of $124.8 million, 67 per cent lower than the $381.45 million of losses chalked up in 2007.
Revenue slipped 14 per cent to $643.8 million, down from $751.65 million in 2007, mainly due to lower revenue from the group's casino operations in Britain on the back of a weakening pound against the Singapore dollar.
Source
The extra funds to be pumped in by the company, which is part of Malaysian gaming conglomerate Genting Berhad, will bring its total investment in RWS to $6.59 billion, up from $6 billion, it said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange on Thursday.
Genting said the extra investments were required because of further changes made last year aimed at increasing the appeal of the IR project.
'In the course of the past year, changes have been made to the design and architecture of the integrated resort to substantially improve its entertainment and fun offerings, including enhancements to its casino and Universal Studios Singapore,' said Genting.
'Improvements were made to the quality of interiors as well as foot traffic accessibility to retail and dining outlets.'
The group, which managed to narrow its full-year losses, said it will be incurring substantial costs on the Sentosa IR, and this is expected to have a 'significant impact'on its earnings this financial year.
Capital expenditure before the resort's opening is projected to be less than $6 billion, and hence, the additional investments will be funded by operating cash flows from the IR when it opens.
The group also assured investors that financing for the IR 'is in place', after obtaining a $4 billion credit facility in April last year.
To prepare for the IR's opening in 2010, the group 'will be incurring significant pre-opening costs as it accelerates its human resource recruitment, training and sales and marketing programmes for the integrated resort', it added.
As at the end of last year, RWS has awarded and committed more than $4.5 billion of the $6.59 billion project costs.
The resort will feature four hotels, a 7,300-seat ballroom, as well as the first Universal Studios in South-east Asia.
Genting, also the largest casino operator, reported a full-year net loss of $124.8 million, 67 per cent lower than the $381.45 million of losses chalked up in 2007.
Revenue slipped 14 per cent to $643.8 million, down from $751.65 million in 2007, mainly due to lower revenue from the group's casino operations in Britain on the back of a weakening pound against the Singapore dollar.
Source
圣淘沙名胜世界追加近6亿元预算
预计在明年第一季开放部分设施的圣淘沙名胜世界，为了进一步完善建筑设计和增添设施，决定增加投资预算，使它的预算从原来的60亿元，增加到65亿9000万元。
圣淘沙名胜世界总裁陈启德，昨天通过越洋电话接受区域媒体访问时指出，增加投资预算主要是为了增添设施，不完全是因为建筑成本增加。
他指出，新添的投资主要花费在资助设在圣淘沙名胜世界前的单轨列车站、改善度假胜地内的行人设施以及增添度假胜地内环球影城的节目内容。
他透露，工程在2007年4月启动以来，建筑材料成本确实提高不少，以钢铁为例，2007年每公吨为800元，去年增加至每公吨1800元。
近来建筑费用调低不少
另一方面，受金融危机影响，近月建筑费用调低不少。他表示，建筑费用降低的工程，主要是过去两个月发出的建筑合同。
截至去年12月底为止，圣淘沙名胜世界已发出总值45亿元的建筑合同。目前，它已发出约七成的建筑合同。
圣淘沙名胜世界的文告说，新增的5亿9000万元投资将以明年营业后所获得的流动资金支付。去年4月，它取得40亿元的贷款；在开业时，估计资本开支将少于60亿元。
陈启德表示，虽然经济衰退促使近月入境游客人数持续减少，但相信这不会对圣淘沙名胜世界造成太大的影响。
他认为区域旅客将减少长途旅游，改作短程旅行，因此有信心圣淘沙名胜世界一旦开放，就能吸引区域旅客，特别是来自上海、广州的中国游客。至于本地游客，他相信也会慕名而来。
本月底，该度假胜地内的第一家旅馆“美星豪华酒店”将完成主要的建筑架构工程。这座11层楼高的豪华酒店预订明年第一季，随其他设施如赌场、Le Vie剧院、拥有7600个座席的大宴会厅、新加坡环球影城及另外三家酒店一同开放，迎接首批到访的游客。
圣淘沙名胜世界为上市公司云顶国际间接拥有的独资子公司。
云顶国际截至去年底的全年亏损，减少了67％，共为1亿2480万元。
集团营收减少14％，共为6亿4383万元，税前亏损减少65％，共为1亿4847万元。每股亏损1.38分，净资产值28.41分。
Source
圣淘沙名胜世界总裁陈启德，昨天通过越洋电话接受区域媒体访问时指出，增加投资预算主要是为了增添设施，不完全是因为建筑成本增加。
他指出，新添的投资主要花费在资助设在圣淘沙名胜世界前的单轨列车站、改善度假胜地内的行人设施以及增添度假胜地内环球影城的节目内容。
他透露，工程在2007年4月启动以来，建筑材料成本确实提高不少，以钢铁为例，2007年每公吨为800元，去年增加至每公吨1800元。
近来建筑费用调低不少
另一方面，受金融危机影响，近月建筑费用调低不少。他表示，建筑费用降低的工程，主要是过去两个月发出的建筑合同。
截至去年12月底为止，圣淘沙名胜世界已发出总值45亿元的建筑合同。目前，它已发出约七成的建筑合同。
圣淘沙名胜世界的文告说，新增的5亿9000万元投资将以明年营业后所获得的流动资金支付。去年4月，它取得40亿元的贷款；在开业时，估计资本开支将少于60亿元。
陈启德表示，虽然经济衰退促使近月入境游客人数持续减少，但相信这不会对圣淘沙名胜世界造成太大的影响。
他认为区域旅客将减少长途旅游，改作短程旅行，因此有信心圣淘沙名胜世界一旦开放，就能吸引区域旅客，特别是来自上海、广州的中国游客。至于本地游客，他相信也会慕名而来。
本月底，该度假胜地内的第一家旅馆“美星豪华酒店”将完成主要的建筑架构工程。这座11层楼高的豪华酒店预订明年第一季，随其他设施如赌场、Le Vie剧院、拥有7600个座席的大宴会厅、新加坡环球影城及另外三家酒店一同开放，迎接首批到访的游客。
圣淘沙名胜世界为上市公司云顶国际间接拥有的独资子公司。
云顶国际截至去年底的全年亏损，减少了67％，共为1亿2480万元。
集团营收减少14％，共为6亿4383万元，税前亏损减少65％，共为1亿4847万元。每股亏损1.38分，净资产值28.41分。
Source
新科电子再获圣淘沙名胜世界680万元合同
新科工程(ST Engineering)旗下的新科电子(ST Electronics)再获圣淘沙名胜世界有关提供一个综合保安系统、一个资讯科技基础设施系统，以及一个停车场指引和付款系统合同。
新合同价值680万元，加上去年12月所获得的另一相关合同，公司已共获得圣淘沙名胜世界总值9280万元的合同。
Source
新合同价值680万元，加上去年12月所获得的另一相关合同，公司已共获得圣淘沙名胜世界总值9280万元的合同。
Source
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
China may raise tax on imports of refined zinc
HONG KONG/SINGAPORE, Feb 17 (Reuters) - China may raise a tax on imports of refined zinc to 5 percent from 3 percent, smelter officials and traders said on Tuesday, a move that may be bearish for prices and put it at loggerheads with its trading partners.
The duties, which smelter officials say are intended to support domestic smelters and allow them to benefit from restocking by China's State Reserves Bureau, could be a sign that Beijing is toning down its policies to open up trade and limit the headlong expansion of the metals sector.
"The Chinese government seems to be changing policy towards metals, away from encouraging cutbacks to one where it wants to maintain production and preserve employment," said Gayle Berry, an analyst at Barclay Capital in London.
"That's bearish for metals -- China needs to cut production and these new policies are not good news for prices."
She said the tax changes, which may go into force as early as March, may even misfire and create an even bigger headache for smelters in the longer term.
Beijing is also expected to reinstate a 5 percent tax on imports of primary aluminium that it had cancelled two years ago from March 1 to support aluminium smelters. [ID:nHKG242414]
Zinc prices in China, the world's top producer of the metal, have stayed higher than the cost of imports after the SRB bought 59,000 tonnes of refined zinc from seven smelters last month as part of Beijing's plan to support smelters at a time of anaemic demand.
The SRB had also bought 290,000 tonnes of aluminium from eight smelters in December, boosting domestic prices.
"China only imports a tiny amount of aluminium. The tax will support Shanghai Futures Exchange prices, but that will also encourage smelters to restart production," Berry said.
Trade data on Tuesday showed China imported about 25,000 tonnes of unwrought aluminium in January, just 2.5 percent of the country's output of over 1 million tonnes a month.
Berry estimated that higher aluminium prices in Shanghai since the start of the year may have encouraged a million tonnes of idled or new capacity to be fired up.
"There is a low probability that these (moves) will go through. Chinese imports and exports have dropped significantly and with volumes at these levels, it would be difficult for the government to impose new taxes," said Wan Ling, an aluminium analyst at CRU.
"PROTECTIONISM" CHARGE
Traders said the proposal could leave China open to accusations of protectionism, especially after it lambasted the United States for a "Buy American" clause in the $787 billion plan to jump-start the world's biggest economy passed on Friday.
"China is big but it is part of the global market," a trader at an international trading house said.
"The Chinese started complaining of U.S. protectionism. If they start increasing import duties on everything, there's going to be a trade war."
China's official Xinhua news agency has slammed the "Buy American" requirement of the U.S. economic stimulus package, saying in a commentary that trade protectionism is a "poison" that will harm poor countries. [ID:nPEK84246]
"History and economic theory show that in facing a financial crisis, trade protectionism is not a way out, but rather could become just the poison that worsens global economic hardships," Xinhua said, in response to the passing of the U.S. plan.
William Adams, an analyst at BaseMetals.com, reckons China's actions aren't really protectionism.
"The SRB is buying metals to support domestic smelters. That is their aim rather than to make money for smelters in other countries. The problem is that if they keep domestic prices up even if they maintain the barriers, metal will continue to flow in."
Source
The duties, which smelter officials say are intended to support domestic smelters and allow them to benefit from restocking by China's State Reserves Bureau, could be a sign that Beijing is toning down its policies to open up trade and limit the headlong expansion of the metals sector.
"The Chinese government seems to be changing policy towards metals, away from encouraging cutbacks to one where it wants to maintain production and preserve employment," said Gayle Berry, an analyst at Barclay Capital in London.
"That's bearish for metals -- China needs to cut production and these new policies are not good news for prices."
She said the tax changes, which may go into force as early as March, may even misfire and create an even bigger headache for smelters in the longer term.
Beijing is also expected to reinstate a 5 percent tax on imports of primary aluminium that it had cancelled two years ago from March 1 to support aluminium smelters. [ID:nHKG242414]
Zinc prices in China, the world's top producer of the metal, have stayed higher than the cost of imports after the SRB bought 59,000 tonnes of refined zinc from seven smelters last month as part of Beijing's plan to support smelters at a time of anaemic demand.
The SRB had also bought 290,000 tonnes of aluminium from eight smelters in December, boosting domestic prices.
"China only imports a tiny amount of aluminium. The tax will support Shanghai Futures Exchange prices, but that will also encourage smelters to restart production," Berry said.
Trade data on Tuesday showed China imported about 25,000 tonnes of unwrought aluminium in January, just 2.5 percent of the country's output of over 1 million tonnes a month.
Berry estimated that higher aluminium prices in Shanghai since the start of the year may have encouraged a million tonnes of idled or new capacity to be fired up.
"There is a low probability that these (moves) will go through. Chinese imports and exports have dropped significantly and with volumes at these levels, it would be difficult for the government to impose new taxes," said Wan Ling, an aluminium analyst at CRU.
"PROTECTIONISM" CHARGE
Traders said the proposal could leave China open to accusations of protectionism, especially after it lambasted the United States for a "Buy American" clause in the $787 billion plan to jump-start the world's biggest economy passed on Friday.
"China is big but it is part of the global market," a trader at an international trading house said.
"The Chinese started complaining of U.S. protectionism. If they start increasing import duties on everything, there's going to be a trade war."
China's official Xinhua news agency has slammed the "Buy American" requirement of the U.S. economic stimulus package, saying in a commentary that trade protectionism is a "poison" that will harm poor countries. [ID:nPEK84246]
"History and economic theory show that in facing a financial crisis, trade protectionism is not a way out, but rather could become just the poison that worsens global economic hardships," Xinhua said, in response to the passing of the U.S. plan.
William Adams, an analyst at BaseMetals.com, reckons China's actions aren't really protectionism.
"The SRB is buying metals to support domestic smelters. That is their aim rather than to make money for smelters in other countries. The problem is that if they keep domestic prices up even if they maintain the barriers, metal will continue to flow in."
Source
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
应付未来激增客流量 圣淘沙岛将兴建缆道系统
发展集团探讨在圣淘沙岛内兴建缆道系统，应付未来岛上激增的客流量。
这是继本报较早前独家报道的自动走道（travellator）建造工程后，另一个改善圣淘沙岛上交通的计划。
该集团日前公开招标，邀请承包商就圣淘沙缆道系统（Sentosa Cableway）的设计与建造计划，提供全面的咨询服务，包括研究整个系统的建筑、土木与结构设计、机械与电子工程及建筑工料估算等。
有关咨询也包括研究不同建筑部件，如塔架、车站和维修站的发展和采购工作。
招标工作分两个阶段进行，只有获选进入第二阶段的顾问公司才可参与投标。参与者需有至少10年的建筑发展工程咨询与管理经验，以及曾负责过至少五项建筑费各超过3000万元的工程。
有关招标将在本月10日截止。圣淘沙集团受询时不愿进一步透露详情，但据可靠消息透露，这个新的缆道系统并非是要取代现有衔接新加坡本岛和圣淘沙的缆车服务。它将建在岛内，主要是要应付圣淘沙岛上日益繁忙的客流量，把路面上的部分交通量转移到“空中”。
探讨中的其中一个缆车站可能设在综合度假胜地名胜世界外，较靠近高尔夫球场那一端。另一头可能设在西乐索炮台（Fort Siloso）附近。长远的计划不排除把缆道进一步连接到本岛的可能性。
本报去年底曾报道，圣淘沙集团计划在今年中，动工兴建跨海的木板走道（boardwalk）来连接怡丰城（VivoCity）和圣淘沙岛，为游客提供多一个登岛的管道。
新木板走道将建在现有圣淘沙汽车大桥旁，上面将装置类似樟宜机场内的电动走道，走累了的游客可站着被送上岛。走道沿途也会设零售和小吃店，让游客在有遮荫设施的木板走道上一边享用美食和购物，一边轻松漫步到岛上。
目前圣淘沙岛上汽车和巴士车流量相当繁忙，相信在明年初名胜世界启用后，交通情况更紧张，因此当局正积极探讨如何改善岛上的路面交通。
圣淘沙每年的游人多达620万人次，名胜世界综合度假胜地建成后，游人会倍增，预计到了2015年登岛游客将增至1500万人次。
目前约三成的游人是使用圣淘沙捷运系统（Sentosa Express）登岛，开车入岛的游客不到25％，另外20％乘坐缆车，其余则搭乘圣淘沙短程巴士和游览巴士。
据了解，当局担心在名胜世界启用后，乘客量日益攀高，捷运系统恐怕不胜负荷，无法应付日后的需求，因此探讨增设多一个交通管道。
缆道服务究竟如何运作，目前还不具体，但受访的旅游业者认为，如果是缆车的话，行驶速度一般较缓慢，纯粹作为另一个交通工具，恐怕无法有效舒缓人潮。全国旅行社协会(NATAS)总裁邱武侯受访时说：“假如它的车厢比较大或有别于现有的系统，又或者建设缆车的用意是要让游客从高空观光游览圣淘沙，那就另当别论。”
他认为，增设自动走道是个较为有效的交通模式，“若自动走道可运送大批游人入岛，旅游巴士就不用上岛，可在怡丰城让游客下车，游人登岛后可改用其他交通工具，这么一来，就可减少岛上旅游巴士的数量”。
邱武侯也认为，有了自动走道后，当局应考虑限制人们开车上岛，“或许可在本岛设较多停车处，让游人把车子停放在本岛，然后使用自动走道登岛”。
全国旅协入境旅游主席陈绍棠表示：“目前还不清楚缆车的具体设计，难以评论它的用处，现在捷运系统主要是直线贯穿圣淘沙岛，若建缆车的话，可能是要把交通设备向‘横’发展，照顾岛上各个景点的交通需求。”
他建议当局提升捷运系统，进一步提高车厢的载客量，以应付日益增加的需求。
另外，当局据说也正探讨把现有的短程巴士服务扩展到市区，以方便游客直接从乌节路和滨海湾一带乘坐巴士到圣淘沙。目前这类橙色短程巴士仅从港湾巴士转换站出发。
圣淘沙集团也探讨延长短程巴士的川行时间，考虑24小时运作，方便留宿游客进出圣淘沙。
Source
这是继本报较早前独家报道的自动走道（travellator）建造工程后，另一个改善圣淘沙岛上交通的计划。
该集团日前公开招标，邀请承包商就圣淘沙缆道系统（Sentosa Cableway）的设计与建造计划，提供全面的咨询服务，包括研究整个系统的建筑、土木与结构设计、机械与电子工程及建筑工料估算等。
有关咨询也包括研究不同建筑部件，如塔架、车站和维修站的发展和采购工作。
招标工作分两个阶段进行，只有获选进入第二阶段的顾问公司才可参与投标。参与者需有至少10年的建筑发展工程咨询与管理经验，以及曾负责过至少五项建筑费各超过3000万元的工程。
有关招标将在本月10日截止。圣淘沙集团受询时不愿进一步透露详情，但据可靠消息透露，这个新的缆道系统并非是要取代现有衔接新加坡本岛和圣淘沙的缆车服务。它将建在岛内，主要是要应付圣淘沙岛上日益繁忙的客流量，把路面上的部分交通量转移到“空中”。
探讨中的其中一个缆车站可能设在综合度假胜地名胜世界外，较靠近高尔夫球场那一端。另一头可能设在西乐索炮台（Fort Siloso）附近。长远的计划不排除把缆道进一步连接到本岛的可能性。
本报去年底曾报道，圣淘沙集团计划在今年中，动工兴建跨海的木板走道（boardwalk）来连接怡丰城（VivoCity）和圣淘沙岛，为游客提供多一个登岛的管道。
新木板走道将建在现有圣淘沙汽车大桥旁，上面将装置类似樟宜机场内的电动走道，走累了的游客可站着被送上岛。走道沿途也会设零售和小吃店，让游客在有遮荫设施的木板走道上一边享用美食和购物，一边轻松漫步到岛上。
目前圣淘沙岛上汽车和巴士车流量相当繁忙，相信在明年初名胜世界启用后，交通情况更紧张，因此当局正积极探讨如何改善岛上的路面交通。
圣淘沙每年的游人多达620万人次，名胜世界综合度假胜地建成后，游人会倍增，预计到了2015年登岛游客将增至1500万人次。
目前约三成的游人是使用圣淘沙捷运系统（Sentosa Express）登岛，开车入岛的游客不到25％，另外20％乘坐缆车，其余则搭乘圣淘沙短程巴士和游览巴士。
据了解，当局担心在名胜世界启用后，乘客量日益攀高，捷运系统恐怕不胜负荷，无法应付日后的需求，因此探讨增设多一个交通管道。
缆道服务究竟如何运作，目前还不具体，但受访的旅游业者认为，如果是缆车的话，行驶速度一般较缓慢，纯粹作为另一个交通工具，恐怕无法有效舒缓人潮。全国旅行社协会(NATAS)总裁邱武侯受访时说：“假如它的车厢比较大或有别于现有的系统，又或者建设缆车的用意是要让游客从高空观光游览圣淘沙，那就另当别论。”
他认为，增设自动走道是个较为有效的交通模式，“若自动走道可运送大批游人入岛，旅游巴士就不用上岛，可在怡丰城让游客下车，游人登岛后可改用其他交通工具，这么一来，就可减少岛上旅游巴士的数量”。
邱武侯也认为，有了自动走道后，当局应考虑限制人们开车上岛，“或许可在本岛设较多停车处，让游人把车子停放在本岛，然后使用自动走道登岛”。
全国旅协入境旅游主席陈绍棠表示：“目前还不清楚缆车的具体设计，难以评论它的用处，现在捷运系统主要是直线贯穿圣淘沙岛，若建缆车的话，可能是要把交通设备向‘横’发展，照顾岛上各个景点的交通需求。”
他建议当局提升捷运系统，进一步提高车厢的载客量，以应付日益增加的需求。
另外，当局据说也正探讨把现有的短程巴士服务扩展到市区，以方便游客直接从乌节路和滨海湾一带乘坐巴士到圣淘沙。目前这类橙色短程巴士仅从港湾巴士转换站出发。
圣淘沙集团也探讨延长短程巴士的川行时间，考虑24小时运作，方便留宿游客进出圣淘沙。
Source
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