Dividend payments up 8 per cent: SET
Dividends being paid by 216 listed companies for their 2005 operations rose almost 8 per cent year-on-year to Bt161.68 billion, according to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
The number of companies that have announced dividends for their 2005 performances accounted for 50 per cent of the total number of listed companies, with the exception of those trading under the rehabilitation sector.The aggregate dividend being paid for last year's earnings translated into a 4-per-cent return on investment, the stock exchange said. Some listed companies have yet to announce their dividend payments. Earlier this month, the SET reported a combined net profit from 456 listed companies in 2005 of Bt537.39 billion, or 13-per-cent more than in 2004. There are currently 470 companies listed on the Thai bourse. The resources, property and construction, technology, financial and service sectors were the biggest source of dividends. The resources sector is paying the highest dividends in terms of value and PTT Plc has announced the biggest payment, Bt25.88 billion, or an annual dividend of Bt9.25 per share. The real estate and construction sector emerged as the second-biggest dividend-paying sector in terms of value, with Bt31.24 billion. The technology, financial and service sectors are paying out Bt28.16 billion, 19.19 billion and Bt17.79 billion, respectively. Siam Cement Plc (SCC) is paying the biggest dividend in the property and construction sector: Bt15 per share, Advanced Info Service Plc is the highest payer in the technology sector with Bt6.30 per share, while Siam Commercial Bank is the biggest payer in the financial sector with Bt3 per share.
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