Daily Briefing: Banking sector suffers lacklustre loans; Singapore picks Shell and Pavilion as next LNG suppliers.

And here are the best companies to work for in Singapore.

With the sluggish economic growth seen in the third quarter at 0.6%, it is not surprising that banks continue to suffer lacklustre loans. Loans have declined for eight consecutive months now, the longest streak of contraction since 2005. Based on the latest numbers, system loans contracted by 5.2% YoY. Check out how banks brace for headwinds here.

As it vies to become a regional centre for liquid natural gas (LNG) in Asia, Singapore has chosen Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Pavilion Gas Pte. Ltd. as its next suppliers of the said fuel. The two companies will have exclusive rights to sell 1 million metric tons of LNG annually for up to three years, commencing in 2017. Read here to know more about the story.

It is estimated that people spend on average 45- 60 hours a week at work. In Singapore specifically, it was reported that millennials spend 48 hours per week at work on average. This has put Singapore close to the top of the longest work week in the world. Some of these people may dread the thought of working for long hours. But for some employees in certain companies, it would be a delight to work for extended hours because the company provides the ideal environment. Get to know these companies by clicking here.