STI stocks expected to hand out 7.9% more in dividends for 2019

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 lowe…