Martin Currie Asia Unconstrained Trust plc announced that an interim dividend of 2.6 pence for the six months ended September 30, 2016 (2015: 2.5 pence) will be paid on 23 December 2016 to shareholders on the register on 2 December 2016 representing a 4% increase in last year's interim dividend.

The company reported unaudited earnings results for the six months ended September 30, 2016. For the period, the company reported total income of £23.995 million against total loss of £23.870 million a year ago. Net return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation was £23.254 million against negative return on ordinary activities before finance costs and taxation of £24.575 million a year ago. Net return on ordinary activities before taxation was £23.196 million against negative return on ordinary activities before taxation of £24.625 million a year ago. Net returns attributable to shareholders were £23.088 million or 5.62 pence per share against net loss attributable to shareholders of £24.710 million or 65.22 pence per share a year ago. Net cash flows from operating activities were £4.830 million against net cash out flows from operating activities of £4.229 million a year ago. On a total return basis, the net asset value of the company increased by 19.5% while the share price gained 18.5%. The results are ahead of the headline GDP for countries in universe growing approximately 10.8% over the last twelve months in sterling terms. Obviously, performance has benefitted from the impact of the weakness in Sterling which fell sharply against the US dollar following the EU referendum result in June.