1 Standard Chartered chief executive Bill Winters bought £1 million (S$2.16 million) of shares in the bank a week after seeking US$5.1 billion (S$7.2 billion) from investors, Bloomberg said.

2 US department store operator J.C. Penney said sales were better than expected. The result caps a volatile week for stores ahead of the all-important holiday season, Reuters reported.

3 Hiap Hoe said managing director Roland Teo Ho Kang, has been on extended leave of absence due to medical reasons for several months. The executive committee is serving as the central decision-making authority.

4 Wheelock Properties' net profit rose 2.4 per cent to $11.3 million for the quarter to Sept 30. Revenue surged 268 per cent to $83.9 million. Wheelock Place had an overall occupancy rate of 98 per cent.

5 The UOL Group joint venture developing Principal Garden has sold a unit to Ms Wee Jun Ning, daughter of Mr Wee Ee-chao, a UOL director. The sale was based on the same price offered to the public.