Bizview: Today's top business news

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will release detailed data on Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter next Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8am. The Economic Survey of Singapore for the quarter will include information and data on the overall GDP performance of the economy, sectoral performance, sources of growth, inflation, employment and productivity, the ministry said in a statement.

Mainboard-listed Ho Bee Land has made a second prime office acquisition in London's West End within a week, the property group said on Tuesday. Its wholly owned subsidiary, HB Mayfair, has signed a sale and purchase agreement with Aberdeen Asset Management to acquire 110 Park Street, Mayfair, for £45.8 million (S$98 million).

Singapore conglomerate Sembcorp Industries posted a net profit of S$223.563 million for the three months ending June 30, up 24.9 per cent from the same period a year ago. Revenue fell to S$2.4 billion, down 5.8 per cent.

Commodities trader Noble Group soared for a second day, in a move that could reverse all of last week's slump. The blue chip counter, which opened at 49 Singapore cents on Tuesday, jumped more than 20 per cent to 58.5 cents as at 4.05pm - marking its biggest gain in more than six years.

Australia's central bank held interest rates at record lows on Tuesday in a widely expected decision, but surprised markets by toning down calls for a further fall in the local dollar. The currency jumped half a US cent to US$0.7348 after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) dropped a reference to a further decline being necessary, saying only that the Aussie was adjusting to weak commodity prices.