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2016 dividends hit by oil & gas troubles, lower special payouts

Bigger-than-expected drop at Singapore banks also contributes to 5.2% slide in ordinary and special dividends to S$16.3b

Singapore

IT'S a tough year for Singapore stock investors and a dip in 2016 dividends will add to the pain.

Latest data indicates that 2016 dividends will fall a bigger than expected 2.7 per cent from a year ago to S$16 billion from S$16.5 billion, according to financial data provider IHS Markit

If special dividends are added to the picture, the fall comes to 5.2 per cent as only three companies are paying them against four in 2015.

Still, while 2016's total payout (ordinary plus special) of S$16.3 billion is S$937 million less than the S$17.2 billion in 2015, it's pretty similar to that of 2014.

And 2014 was a bumper year for special dividends when 10 companies paid a total of almost S$1.2 billion...

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