Singapore
CONSTITUENTS of the FTSE Straits Times Index (STI) are projected to pay out 7.9 per cent more ordinary dividends totalling S$19.2 billion for 2019, thanks largely to bullish forecasts on the payouts from banks.
Increased ordinary dividends are expected despite muted dividend growth from the second- and third-largest dividend-paying sectors (telecommunications and real estate respectively), said financial data provider IHS Markit in a report shared with The Business Times.
Including special dividends however, total dividends are set to be modestly lower than last year. IHS Markit forecasts the figure to be S$19.66 billion, down slightly from the S$19.75 billion in FY2018, due to the absence...