(SINGAPORE) Companies may have no hold over the eurozone, but they are trying to get a grip on their exposures to the troubled region. From investment houses to energy firms, many are seeking legal advice or tapping risk models to protect themselves from a potential break-up of the bloc.

(SINGAPORE) The Singapore Airshow 2012 kicks off this week even as the global economy remains in a fragile state and the aviation sector faces uncertainties on various fronts.

TRADING among directors was flat last week, with seven companies recording 15 purchases worth $1.64 million versus two firms with three disposals worth $570,000.

WBL Corporation's net profit slipped 0.2 per cent year-on-year, from $23.73 million to $23.68 million, for the first quarter ended Dec 31, 2011.

IT WOULD be fair to say that after spending the most part of 2009-2010 learning about the ins and outs of US Federal Reserve workings and the US economy, local investors in the past seven months or so have had to turn their energies to learning about Europe and the confusing conglomerations that are the eurozone, the European Union (EU) and the euro.

(MELBOURNE) Australia's economy, buoyed by demand from China for iron ore and coal, is feeling the impact of a global slowdown as employers defer hiring new workers on European uncertainty, Treasurer Wayne Swan said.

(MELBOURNE) Global consumer confidence rose in the December quarter as improving sentiment in the US and China, the world's largest economies, outweighed deterioration in Europe, according to a survey by Nielsen Holdings NV.

OIL and gas trader BP Singapore has secured a 16-year deal to supply 8 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas to a Japanese power company and hopes to use the upcoming Singapore LNG terminal - when more tankage becomes available here - to ship some of the LNG cargoes, Pek Hak Bin, its country head, told BT yesterday.

OPTITUNE International, which specialises in solar efficiency-enhancing coatings, plans to expand its R&D capabilities here and use Singapore as its global management and operations hub, said its CEO, Jerry Lee-Barber.

THE government, through the Economic Development Board (EDB), will continue to roll out a holistic support package for global aerospace companies wanting to locate in Singapore or boost their existing operations here.

THE maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years, with a substantial portion of that growth being driven by Asia.

1CARE? More like Take-Care-it's-another-scheme-we'll-have-to-bear, a wide section of the Malaysian public appears to be saying in response to a national healthcare scheme mooted by the government.

(JAKARTA) Automakers from Japan to India are eyeing a bonanza in Indonesia, South-east Asia's largest economy where a newly wealthy middle class are splashing out on cars like never before.

(JAKARTA) Indonesia will ban exports of some unprocessed metals from 2014 and could revoke the export licences of firms that violate the ban, the energy ministry said in a regulation that was posted on its website but which later disappeared.

(CHONGQING, China) Some Canadian resource firms are being treated unfairly in China and Beijing must deal with the problem if it wants a proper trading relationship with energy-rich Canada, a top official said.

(SHANGHAI) Wuhu in eastern China will waive a deed tax and subsidise some home purchases, becoming the first city in the nation to ease property curbs this year even as the central government reiterated plans to maintain restrictions.

(LONDON) British Prime Minister David Cameron is facing growing calls to cut huge aid handouts to India after a series of perceived snubs from the former jewel in the crown of London's colonial empire.

(SYDNEY) Global mining giant BHP Billiton yesterday warned that it could scale back production at unprofitable operations as commodity prices softened due to economic uncertainty.

(TOKYO) Japanese Emperor Akihito will undergo heart bypass surgery on Feb 18, after a detailed examination found a heart problem had worsened, the Imperial Household Agency was quoted as saying yesterday.

(ATHENS) Greek lawmakers yesterday began debating legislation introducing severe austerity measures necessary for the country to secure a 130 billion euro (S$216 billion) bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund and stave off bankruptcy.

(WASHINGTON) Billionaire investor George Soros predicted weak growth and lingering political tension that could shatter Europe's economic union even if Greece agrees to austerity measures.

THE markets have been buoyant in the new year so far, with few negative developments from the eurozone and increasingly positive economic data from the US.

(SAN FRANCISCO) The Standard & Poor's GSCI Spot Index of 24 raw materials tumbled the most in three weeks, by one per cent to 673.37, at 4pm New York time last Friday on concern that a Greek bailout plan will unravel. Metals led the decline.

ALFIE is a London hair stylist. He is 25 years old, smart, and fond of expensive designer clothes. He puts himself into the low income bracket and admits his spending habits go way beyond his monthly salary.

'WHO would be so crazy to spend New Year's eve waiting to be the first to register their company?' mused Chiang Zhan Xiang, founder of Travelmania. Apparently, 16 other companies beat him to it in 2010, but that did not stop this jovial entrepreneur's success.

This year's Singapore Airshow will be the biggest ever, featuring over 900 companies from 50 countries.

THE focus of the global aviation industry will be on Singapore this week. It is a time of great uncertainty. Iata's (International Air Transport Association's) outlook is for anaemic industry profitability. At best we expect the year to bring a 0.6 per cent profit margin.

LAST year, portable computing was all the rage with the iPad leading the tablet charge. Although analysts say the media tablet craze seems to be petering off, some PC vendors in the region have prepped themselves up to address this market in a big way this year.

(SAN FRANCISCO) Apple Inc sued Motorola Mobility Inc on Friday in an effort to block Motorola's patent infringement claims against Apple in Germany.

DIGITAL is now a way of life, people will be increasingly reliant on social networking, as their primary means of participating in different communities. It will benefit businesses to accept this sooner rather than later.

NEW RESTAURANT La Luna Rossa #02-01 Scotts Square 6 Scotts Road Tel: 6636-2951/2952

NO matter how varied the fare or how much work goes into intricately preparing each dish, hotel buffets run a high risk of being too cold or too soggy from having sat on the buffet table for too long.

Budget 2012 presents an opportunity to simplify the tax system and provide greater certainty for investing, businesses SINGAPORE experienced a phenomenal economic recovery in 2010 after the 2009 global financial crisis.

A Budget 2012 wish list includes fiscal measures to drive productivity, ease business costs and improve cash flow SINGAPORE is not immune to the shifting global economic winds.