SembCorp Profits Boosted By Marine

Singapore's SembCorp Industries Ltd is expected to post up to a 60 percent rise in half-year net profit on Wednesday, boosted by its logistics, utility and marine businesses. Out of five analysts polled by Reuters, three forecast an interim net profit of between S$90 million ($51.2 million) and S$107 million, including exceptional gains, compared with S$67.27 million in the same period last year. The stock was at S$1.66, up seven cents at 0830 GMT, and most analysts rated the stock a buy or outperform, with price targets ranging between S$1.80 and S$2.20 on hopes that it could ride out the current cyclical economic downturn. They said its marine business should see a cyclical upturn, while its utilities business would benefit strongly from supplies of natural gas and electrical power to industries located on the Singapore's Jurong Island. - (Reuters)