Singapore - Salaries in the Asia-Pacific region are forecast to jump next year as a result of rising inflation, a compensation firm's report said Tuesday.

Pay is expected to increase by a median 8 per cent in 2009 against a median increase of 6.7 per cent in 2008, according to HR Business Solutions.

Pay hikes among more developed countries including Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore are forecast at between 3.5-5.9 per cent, the firm said.

Sri Lanka tops the projected increases at 17 per cent, followed by India at 16 per cent, Indonesia at 12.7 per cent, Vietnam at 12.4 per cent, Bangladesh at 11.9 per cent and Pakistan at 11.1 per cent.

Singapore - Singapore received top marks for being the world's best meeting venue in 2007 by the international non-profit Union of International Associations, overtaking previous favorites Paris and Vienna, The Strait Times reported Wednesday.

The Asian city-state topped the rankings of meeting, exhibition and convention of the year and also won in the categories of best business event venue and business ambassador., the paper said.

Singapore - Businesses in Asia are facing a shortage of talent and lack of experienced staff in environments where companies are seeking robust growth, a study said on Wednesday.

Employers need to provide staff with greater independence, empowerment, flexibility and challenging work if they want to attract and retain the best workers, said Hewitt Associates, which conducted the survey for Singapore's Ministry of Manpower.

The study involving 80 business leaders in India, China and Singapore found employees are shifting jobs more frequently instead of seeking life-long employment

Organizations are replacing seniority-based employment with emphasis on results and performance, the study said.

Singapore - China and Japan share first place as Asia's best investment destinations for foreign firms, a published study said on Friday.

Singapore - Direct investments in the United States from Asia-Pacific companies looking to acquire or set up businesses overseas have surged, with Australia in the lead, published US Department of

Singapore - Coal equities in Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are forecast to outperform the broader marker longer than expected, a Goldman Sachs report said on Monday.