Good morning! Morning Minutes is a round-up of stories that will break on Thursday (Dec 15) and which we think you'd be interested in.

It appears on weekdays, available by 7am.

DATA ON PRIVATE HOME SALES RELEASED TODAY

Data on new private home sales by developers last month will be released on Thursday.

Market watchers are expecting November to yield another bumper crop to match October's sales, on the strength of the high take-up rates at two major condominium launches - Queens Peak and Parc Riviera.

Developers sold 1,252 new homes in October, the highest monthly new home sales since July last year (2015).

INDONESIA EXPECTED TO KEEP MAIN POLICY RATES ON HOLD

Indonesia's central bank is widely expected to keep its main policy rates on hold today, just hours after the Federal Reserve concludes a meeting at which it is expected to raise US interest rates.

A Fed rate hike, which would be the first in a year, could lure more capital away from emerging markets such as Indonesia. Earlier this year, South-east Asia's largest economy enjoyed relatively high inflows into its stock and bond markets, but the country is vulnerable to capital outflows.

Economists expect BI to keep its benchmark interest rate on hold at 4.75 per cent, where it has been since a cut in October. October's cut was BI's sixth this year, by a total of 150 basis points in an effort to accelerate economic growth.

BANK OF ENGLAND TO ANNOUNCE LATEST POLICY DECISION

Bank of England will announce its latest policy decision on Thursday (Dec 15). Economists forecast BoE to keep its key interest rate at a record-low 0.25 per cent.

After cutting the rate in August, policy makers have since warned of inflation risks because of the pound's drop since the United Kingdom voted in June to leave the European Union.

EU leaders to begin summit in Brussels

European Union leaders will begin a one-day summit on Thursday (Dec 15) in Brussels, where they will discuss key issues including sanctions against Russia and the crises in Ukraine and Syria.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will attend the summit, but she will be left out of the evening session when her EU counterparts discuss key principles of negotiations for Brexit, the media reported.

$30K fellowships for women scientists

Accomplished women scientists will be feted at an annual fellowship award on Thursday (Dec 15).

Two fellowships - each with a $30,000 cash award - will be granted to two scientists, one in the field of life sciences and one in physical and engineering science. They are sponsored by beauty brand L'Oreal Singapore.

Since the scheme was started in 2009, 16 fellowships have been granted.