Singtel first quarter profit rises 12.8 percent

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd reported a 12.8 percent rise in its first-quarter net profit, helped by improved performance in Australia and contributions from its regional mobile associates. Southeast Asia's largest telecommunications operator, posted a net profit of S$941.6 million ($672.9 million) for the three months ended in June, compared with S$834.6 million in the same period a year ago. Excluding exceptional items such as divestment gains, underlying net profit grew 2 percent, it said.
SingTel affirmed its outlook issued in May when it said its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation were expected to grow by low-single digits for the fiscal year ending March 2016.