SINGAPORE, Jan 18, 2026, 15:43 (GMT+8) — The market has closed.
- Jardine Matheson ended Friday at $74.35, gaining 0.22%.
- Mandarin Oriental International will be delisted from SGX on Jan. 20.
- Late Friday, Jardine revealed a modest share buyback alongside purchases made by its directors.
Shares of Jardine Matheson Holdings on the Singapore Exchange closed slightly up on Friday at $74.35, a 0.16 rise. Filings revealed that its Mandarin Oriental unit is just days from delisting, while the parent company continued its stock buybacks. Trading is set to pick up again Monday. (Yahoo Finance)
The timing is key. The delisting wraps up a drawn-out privatisation effort on a clear, set schedule. Meanwhile, the buyback and insider trades send new signals—something investors keep a close eye on in conglomerates, which can seem either undervalued or pricey depending on how you value their individual assets.
This comes as traders puzzle over whether buybacks are turning into a regular move for Jardine or just occasional. Friday’s filing was modest, but it puts a concrete figure on the support beneath the stock.
Mandarin Oriental International is set to be delisted from the SGX on Jan. 20 following its takeover by Jardine Strategic, a fully owned unit of Jardine Matheson, according to an exchange notice. Jardine Matheson already controlled roughly 88% of the hotel chain and offered $3.35 per share for the remainder, putting the firm’s valuation near $4.2 billion, The Business Times reported. (SGX Links)
Jardine disclosed in a separate filing that it repurchased 25,000 ordinary shares on Jan. 16 at a weighted average price of $74.0769. The stock was acquired within a range of $73.31 to $74.35. These shares are set to be cancelled, reducing the total shares outstanding to 295,651,978, the company said. (SGX Links)
Late Friday, another disclosure revealed director trades. Lincoln Pan picked up 13,600 shares over three transactions, with prices hovering between $73.60 and $73.95 on Jan. 15 and 16. Adam Keswick, meanwhile, acquired 13,386 shares via a “net settlement” of share options — meaning shares were delivered after deducting costs and withholding — rather than buying directly on the market. (SGX Links)
Friday’s trading saw the stock fluctuate from $73.31 up to $74.86 before settling at $74.35. Volume came in at 229,200 shares, according to data from the Financial Times. (FT Markets)
Jardine Matheson operates as an Asia-focused holding company, with stakes across property, retail, motors, hotels, and Indonesia’s Astra, per a Reuters company profile. The group notes its main listing is in London, with a secondary one in Singapore. (Reuters)
The overall sentiment might matter more than individual earnings reports. Global stocks finished last week nearly unchanged, with investors bracing for another round of earnings. “Most investors will take that as a win two weeks into the year,” said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. (Reuters)
The risk is clear: a 25,000-share buyback won’t shift the supply dynamics if sellers emerge. The Mandarin Oriental clean-up focuses more on restructuring than on immediate earnings impact. If broader markets falter or investors start doubting where the group will deploy cash next, Jardine’s shares could easily slide again.
Trading in Singapore picks up Monday, with investors watching closely for any follow-up — whether it’s further buyback announcements, insider deals, or maybe nothing at all. The next key date is Jan. 20, when Mandarin Oriental is scheduled to drop off the SGX.
