KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Thursday as renewed geopolitical tensions in West Asia weighed on investor sentiment. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 5.97 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 1,677.64 from Wednesday's close of 1,683.61. The benchmark index opened 2.62 points lower at 1,680.99, and moved between 1,676.18 and 1,683.80 throughout the session. However, market breadth was slightly positive, with gainers leading losers 533 to 504, while 547 counters were unchanged, 1,112 untraded, and 12 suspended. Turnover slipped to 2.64 billion units valued at RM2.19 billion from 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.18 billion on Wednesday.
Strong Financial Performance
- OCBC Bank reported a record net profit of S$7.59 billion (US$5.68 billion) in 2024, up from S$7.02 billion in 2023.
- Total income surged to S$14.47 billion, driven by:
- Net interest income of S$9.76 billion (up from S$9.65 billion).
- Non-interest income of S$4.72 billion, a significant rise from S$3.86 billion.
Capital Return & Dividends
- OCBC plans to return S$2.5 billion to shareholders over two years via:
- Special dividends worth 10% of net profit for 2024 & 2025.
- Share buybacks.
- Dividends for 2024:
- Final ordinary dividend of 41 Singapore cents per share, bringing total ordinary dividends to 85 cents per share.
- Special dividend of 16 cents per share, pending approval at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Outlook & CEO’s Remarks
- CEO Helen Wong remains "cautiously optimistic" about regional growth in 2025.
- OCBC aims to capitalize on market opportunities while managing economic uncertainties.
Summary:
- OCBC posted a record S$7.59 billion net profit in 2024, fueled by strong banking, wealth management, and insurance income.
- S$2.5 billion capital return planned through special dividends & share buybacks.
- 2024 total dividend payout reaches 85 cents per share, plus a proposed 16-cent special dividend.
- OCBC maintains a positive but cautious outlook for 2025.
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