Sime Darby gains but plantation, property extend losses

The company said in a statement that Elsa marks the launch of the Sime Darby Property Affordable Collection which include high-rise and landed properties priced below RM500,000, located within the Klang Valley

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby advanced on Monday as investors looked ahead to its dividend payout but the plantation and property companies which were demerged, continued to lose ground.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI was down 6.04 points or 0.35% to 1,711.82 – in tandem with the weaker key Asain markets. Turnover was 442.08 million shares valued at RM374.95mil. There were 189 gainers, 373 losers and 304 counters unchanged.

Sime Darby rose seven sen to RM2.25, off the early high of RM2.27.Its final single tier dividend of 17 sen per share for the financial year ended June 30, 2017 went ex on Monday.

However, Sime Property fell six sen to RM1.14 and Sime Plantation 13 sen down to RM4.88.

Last Thursday, Sime Darby resumed trading while the property and plantation divisions made their debut on the Main Market.

Under the demerger, Sime Darby Plantation hosted all the plantation businesses within the group, and Sime Darby Property the property businesses. 

The rest of the business, predominantly the heavy equipment, motor and other businesses like the ports that the group operates were parked under Sime Darby.

CIMB Equities Research pointed out on Monday that following the listing of Sime Darby Plantation and Sime Darby Property last Thursday,  and in line with the FTSE ground rules, Westports Holdings and Sime Darby Property would be deleted from KLCI, effective Dec 6. 

Sime Darby (existing constituent member) and Sime Darby Plantations (added to KLCI constituents on Nov 30) will be retained in KLCI index.