Stocks to watch: IHH Healthcare, Venture, Starhill Global Reit, Cordlife

THE following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Friday (Dec 1):

IHH Healthcare : The mainboard-listed company reported earnings of RM532.1 million (S$152.7 million) for its third fiscal quarter ended September, more than double the earnings in the corresponding year-ago period. This translated to earnings per share of 6.04 sen, versus 2.78 sen in the previous year. The higher earnings came on the back of higher revenue across all its markets, said the company on Thursday. Shares of IHH gained 0.6 per cent, or S$0.01, to close at S$1.68, before the news.

Venture Corporation : The mainboard-listed manufacturer is planning to purchase up to 10 million of its ordinary shares. The share-buyback plan was authorised by the board on Nov 29, after its shareholders approved the share-purchase mandate at an annual general meeting in April. Under the mandate, the company can buy up to about 14.5 million shares, which translates to 5 per cent of the total number of issued shares of the company as at the date of the mandate. The counter lost 1.4 per cent, or S$0.18, to close at S$12.53 on Thursday, before the announcement.