Non-trading items bolster Jardine Strategic earnings

NON-TRADING gains including revaluations of investment properties lifted the bottomline for Jardine Strategic Holdings (JSH) in its first half despite what it called "challenging trading conditions" that affected its underlying profit.

Net profit went up 46 per cent to US$1.09 billion from the previous year, the group said in a Singapore Exchange filing on Friday evening.

For the six months ended June 30, revenue slid 4.6 per cent to US$14.33 billion from the previous year.

H1 earnings per share rose to US$1.84 from US$1.24 in the previous year. Net asset value per share climbed to US$55.46 as at June 30, from US$49.99 as at a year ago.

Interim dividend per share for H1 expanded to nine US cents from 8.5 US cents in the previous year. JSH shares closed US$0.75 higher at US$30.60 on Friday.