Latest news with #ColdStorage
New Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Turmeric ryots in Duggirala to get fire relief by June-end
GUNTUR: The State government will ensure compensation is disbursed to turmeric farmers affected by the Shubham Maheshwari Cold Storage fire in Duggirala by the end of June, said Minister for Agriculture K Atchannaidu and Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar. During a review at the Agriculture Commissioner's Office in Guntur district on Thursday, the ministers met officials, insurance representatives, and cold storage management. Guntur District Collector S Nagalakshmi and Agriculture Commissioner (in-charge) Suresh Kumar were also present. Minister Atchannaidu said New India Assurance had prioritised claims and all required documents were submitted. He assured that compensation approval is expected within a week. The cold storage management has been directed to arrange Rs 7,000 per quintal for the 294 affected farmers, as agreed on July 10, 2024. Marketing officials were told to prepare compensation slips, with disbursal to begin once insurance funds are credited to the HDFC-linked account. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar said the government submitted 46 documents and held 200 meetings with the insurer to ensure justice.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Singapore Stocks at 52-Week Highs: Sell, Hold or Buy More?
You must admit it's a happy problem to have when your stock hits a 52-week high. The surge in the share price may signal that the business is improving and reporting higher profits, free cash flow, and dividends. But what should you do now? Is it better to sell the stock and to another, hold it for more upside, or to buy even more if the business continues to grow? This decision will depend on the attractiveness of the company and whether it has the potential to continue doing well in the long term. We highlight five Singapore stocks that recently hit their 52-week highs, and you can decide if you should buy more, hold, or sell them. DFI Retail Group is a pan-Asian retailer operating around 7,700 outlets and employing over 85,000 people as of 31 May 2025. The retailer's share price has shot up almost 20% year-to-date (YTD) and recently hit its 52-week high of US$2.84. DFI Retail Group released its interim management statement for the first quarter of 2025 (1Q 2025). For 1Q 2025, underlying subsidiary sales were 1% lower year on year, but underlying profit shot up 28% year on year once divestments are excluded. The group is evolving its portfolio to focus more on high-growth, high-margin businesses. To this end, it announced the sale of its Singapore Cold Storage and Giant stores back in March 2025 for S$125 million. In February, DFI Retail also completed the sale of its stake in Yonghui Superstores, netting proceeds which were used to pay down US$617 million of debt. Because of this, the retailer ended the quarter in a net cash position of US$127 million. Boustead Singapore, or BSL, is a conglomerate with four divisions – energy engineering, real estate, geospatial technology, and healthcare. Boustead's share price has risen 21.4% YTD to hit its 52-week high of S$1.25. The conglomerate reported a mixed set of earnings for its fiscal 2025 (FY2025) ending 31 March 2025. Revenue plunged 31% year on year to S$527.1 million as the group carried a much lower order book at the end of FY2024. However, gross profit improved by 3% year on year to S$233.3 million because of effective cost control. Net profit after adjusting for one-off items rose 8% year on year to S$68.6 million. In light of the improved profit, BSL declared a final dividend of S$0.04 and a special dividend of S$0.02, taking its FY2025 total dividend to S$0.075. VICOM is a leading test and inspection centre for vehicles, and the group also performs non-vehicle testing in areas such as biochemical, mechanical, and non-destructive testing. VICOM's share price has climbed steadily in recent months to hit its 52-week high of S$1.46, and is up nearly 10% YTD. The test and inspection firm reported a commendable set of earnings for 1Q 2025. Revenue jumped 19% year on year to S$33.3 million, aided by the installation of on-board units (OBUs) for the electronic road pricing 2.0. A total of 53,000 OBUs were installed in 1Q 2025 compared with 35,000 in the previous corresponding quarter. Operating profit increased by 8.7% year on year to S$9 million while net profit improved by 7.5% year on year to S$7.5 million. VICOM also churned out a positive free cash flow of S$4.5 million for the quarter. Sabana REIT owns a diversified portfolio of 18 properties in Singapore with total assets under management of around S$1 billion as of 31 December 2024. The industrial REIT's unit price shot up 11.1% YTD and hit its 52-week high of S$0.41 recently. The REIT reported a sturdy set of results for 1Q 2025 with gross revenue rising 4.6% year on year to S$29.1 million. The better results were because of higher occupancy at a multi-tenanted building, coupled with positive rental reversions across the portfolio. Net property income climbed 22% year on year to S$16 million, and distributable income per unit surged 26.5% year on year to S$0.0086. Occupancy improved slightly quarter-on-quarter to 86.4%, and the REIT continued to log a strong positive rental reversion of 15.3% for 1Q 2025. Hongkong Land Holdings, or HKL, is a property development, management, and investment group. The group's real estate footprint spans more than 830,000 square metres of property in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai. HKL's share price has risen almost 25% YTD to hit its 52-week high of US$5.54. Back in October 2024, the property group announced a strategic review to unlock value for shareholders and double its dividend by 2035. For its 1Q 2025 business update, management announced the sale of office floors and selected office space of One Exchange Square in Hong Kong for around US$810 million. This transaction means that the group has secured 30% of its target to recycle at least US$4 billion of capital by the end of 2027. In the longer term, HKL aims to recycle up to US$10 billion of capital over 10 years. The group's underlying profit for 1Q 2025 remained flat year on year and had net gearing of 16% with committed liquidity of US$3.2 billion. For Singapore, rental reversions were positive and on a committed basis, vacancy remained very low at just 0.8%. Ready to discover the next $100 billion stock? Our newest FREE report dives deep into five popular SGX companies that many say are the next big thing. Read our team's findings to guide your investment strategy. Click the link here to download now. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram for the latest investing news and analyses! Disclosure: Royston Yang owns shares of VICOM and Boustead Singapore. The post 5 Singapore Stocks at 52-Week Highs: Sell, Hold or Buy More? appeared first on The Smart Investor. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
AsiaOne
18-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- AsiaOne
Why we chose a walk-up apartment (yes, with no lift) for our first home, Lifestyle News
When SL and her spouse picked their first home, they selected something a little less common: not a flat or a condo, but an old-school walk-up apartment, with a fantastic Holland V location and greater privacy. Their story explains why walk-ups are growing in popularity among young Singaporean couples and the advantages of this niche property segment: Location as the main draw SL says their choice of a walk-up apartment was about location first; convenience and the vibe of the project came third. She says: "We liked Holland Village, and the recent addition of One Holland Village is a huge plus with the overall vibes of the location catering to lifestyle…for convenience, it is near Holland MRT station, and less than five minutes to FairPrice, Cold Storage, Little Farms, and plenty of food options. "The walk up is situated in a development that is more than 40 years old. Despite its age, it was nicely maintained — the building had a fresh coat of paint and had some facade repairs — and the public spaces were taken care of." The only real drawback, location wise, was the lack of schools in the area. But the couple had already checked out walk-ups in other areas like Tiong Bahru, Siglap, Telok Kurau and others. These alternatives were filtered out because of other factors like layout, poor maintenance, weaker amenities, etc., leaving their Holland V home the final best choice. SL says: "We were drawn to Holland Village because it offers the perfect balance for our first home together. It has a lively, charming vibe with plenty of great cafes, food options, and character, but still feels peaceful when we want to wind down… It really feels like a place we can grow into as a couple, and maybe start a family." Dealing with the innate issues of a walk-up apartment One of the main problems with walk-ups, as the name implies, is the lack of a lift. But SL isn't a stranger to having to use stairs: "Having lived on the second floor before, the lack of a lift was not something that discouraged us from buying the third-floor walk up. This may become an issue for us when we age, of course. We'll revisit this when we are in our 50s! But for the more immediate term, we know that there will be some discomforts and inconveniences to be had when renovating, moving in furniture, or collecting food or parcels from the delivery people since some of them may not want to climb up floors." This also posed some issues during the renovation. The couple said that movers often charge extra depending on the number of floors, and some delivery persons might even refuse to bring larger items up. You also have to consider whether certain items can even fit up the stairwell, which can be "a bit of a logistical challenge." Walk-ups also tend to be quite old, but in SL's case, the building was well maintained, and this was a mitigating factor. The only age issue so far has been the lack of a reliable floor plan; it's not uncommon for older properties to lack these (for projects in the 1970s and earlier, for example, there may only be paper records, which are long lost.) Even if the floor plans can't be found, the layouts do tend to be more spacious and practical "What we noticed was that older developments often had more versatile and easier-to-configure layouts compared to some of the newer ones," SL says. "We were quite particular about avoiding units with bay windows or odd corners, especially common in condos built during a certain period, as those tend to eat into usable space. What really drew us to the unit we chose was its squarish, efficient layout. It gave us the flexibility to plan our space the way we wanted, without having to work around awkward features or wasted corners." SL refers to a period around the 2010s, when developers built exceptionally big planter boxes, bay windows, air-con ledges, etc. ,for the sole purpose of ramping up the price (as you need to pay for all that square footage). Walk-ups, being a different and older property segment, escaped the inefficiencies of this particular era. The serenity and privacy of a walk-up apartment Walk-ups tend to feel more private than condos, if for no other reason than the unit count. SL notes that there are fewer units per block, and a more niche group of residents: younger families, lifelong singles, investors setting up co-living spaces, etc. Some units are rented out to foreign workers, but SL says they "mostly kept to themselves and were generally friendly." She says a lot of this depends on the area and the specific walk-up though. For example, parking hasn't been an issue for her: many of the residents at her walk-up don't drive as it's so close to public transport, so there's usually ample space available. This may not be true for some other walk-ups though, such as those within landed enclaves, where residents tend to be reliant on private transport. The supposed "lack of facilities" can also be a plus in some ways Condo facilities mean maintenance fees; the fancier, the more expensive. As of 2025, typical condos have fees ranging between $350 to $450 per month (some higher-end projects can go into four-digit figures). SL says the couple never saw the lack of facilities as a drawback: "We saw it as a bit of a plus. Our development still has the essentials like a pool, function room, and BBQ pit, and it's spacious enough without feeling crowded. What we appreciated most was the lower maintenance fees — ours is under $300 a month — which felt like a fair trade-off. There's also less foot traffic and noise from things like big family gatherings or birthday parties, so the environment stays pretty peaceful." Walk-ups as potential undervalued gems SL agrees that walk-ups are not for everyone; but if you know what you're looking for and are clear about your needs, they can offer great value, especially in terms of space and location. Given the price point for the size and location, they can be undervalued gems. (And like gems, they do need digging for, as the information available tends to be more limited — so prepare to do a bit more legwork.) She says that: "Many people tend to overlook them because of the stairs or lack of flashy facilities, but that also means less competition and more opportunity to find something with real character. "For buyers new to walk-ups, the condition of the units can be a sticking point — they often require a full renovation or a creative eye to bring out their potential…of course, there are trade-offs, but for us, the benefits have definitely outweighed the downsides. "As long as you go in with your eyes open — knowing what to expect and what you're getting into — they can be a really smart and rewarding choice." For now, SL considers their walk-up to be a long-term home; something they can live in for many years, or even rent if their needs change. This makes it a versatile property, with uses that can be adapted to their current lifestyle needs. So while it can take more work on the renovation front (and more viewings,) walk-ups might present an interesting alternative between condos and HDB flats in the pricey 2025 market; especially for those who prioritise space and privacy. [[nid:717866]] This article was first published in Stackedhomes.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CDC Vouchers 2025 just released
On 13 May 2025, Singaporean households received S$500 in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers. These May 2025 CDC vouchers are part of the 2025 Budget's enhanced Assurance Package, designed to mitigate cost-of-living pressures amid global economic challenges. An additional S$300 in CDC vouchers will be paid out in Jan 2026, bringing the total to S$800 for the financial year. The May 2025 CDC vouchers are evenly split: S$250 for use at participating heartland merchants and hawkers, and S$250 for supermarkets like NTUC FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Cold Storage, Giant Singapore, HAO Mart, Prime Supermarket and U Stars Supermarket. With this approach, both local businesses and Singaporean homes benefit. Over 97% of households claimed the previous January tranche, spending more than S$324 million, mainly on food and groceries. Households with at least one Singapore citizen can access their vouchers via To claim them, just one member of these eligible households needs to log in with their Singpass. They will receive a unique voucher link for the home via SMS. This link can be shared with the rest of the household so each member can use it concurrently. The May 2025 CDC vouchers are valid until 31 Dec 2025. Supermarkets are running promotions to coincide with this launch. FairPrice Group, Cold Storage and Giant are offering a S$6 return voucher for every S$60 spent in a single CDC voucher transaction from 13 to 19 May 2025. There is no minimum spend when you use the return voucher. All adult Singaporeans will also receive SG60 vouchers in Jul 2025. All citizens above the age of 21 will get S$600 while seniors aged 60 and above will receive S$800. These vouchers can be used at all businesses where CDC vouchers are accepted. Please be mindful when you claim your May 2025 CDC vouchers online. Do not respond to requests asking for your banking credentials, OTP or password. Do not transfer any money or install apps from any websites. None of these are required to claim your CDC vouchers. If you suspect a scam, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: World's thinnest flagship phone slips into Singapore The post CDC Vouchers 2025 just released appeared first on
New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Affin extends RM500mil loan for MV6 to buy Cold Storage Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Group has announced a landmark RM500 million financing agreement with Macrovalue Six Sdn Bhd (MV6), marking a pivotal move in regional commerce between Malaysia and Singapore. This fully finances MV6's acquisition of a 100 per cent stake in Cold Storage Singapore (1983) Pte Ltd from DFI Retail Group Management Ltd. Affin Group president and group chief executive officer Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah said the deal is a transformative venture and strengthening Malaysia's leadership in Asean commerce. "Affin is proud to support Macrovalue in this historic entry into Singapore and this is not just a financing deal. "It is about enabling regional growth and creating a bridge for capital, talent, and resources between Malaysia and Singapore," he said during the ceremony. He added that the acquisition of 89 retail outlets in Singapore, comprising 48 Cold Storage stores and 41 Giant outlets followed the successful turnaround of GCH Retail (Malaysia), including Giant Malaysia. With Malaysian strong infrastructure and a localised strategy, MV6 aims to deliver greater affordability and variety to Singaporean consumers while strengthening Cold Storage's position as a premium retail brand. MV6 executive chairman Datuk Andrew Lim said it has plans for further expansion of store openings. "Our appetite to expand is very great. As long as the stores are profitable, we will open more," he said. MV6 aims to further cement its regional retail leadership by opening six new Cold Storage outlets in Singapore and 12 new Giant stores in Malaysia this year. Despite global economic concerns, Lim said the demand for food and groceries remains strong with minimal reliance on United States imports. As part of its growth trajectory, MV6 expects a 10 per cent increase in revenue in Malaysia and Singapore. The group aims to raise its total turnover to RM5.6 billion, with a longer-term target of RM7 billion as expansion and integration efforts mature.
