BUZZ-HK's Wharf REIC sinks to over 8-month low on weak H1, dividend cut

** Shares of Wharf Real Estate Investment Co Ltd fall as much as 8.8% to HK$36.70, their lowest Dec. 2, extending losses for the sixth straight session

** Stock biggest decliner in the Hang Seng sub-index tracking property firms and the second biggest decliner in the benchmark Hang Seng Index

** The property investor and shopping malls operator says its unaudited underlying net profit for H1 2021 decreased 15% to HK$3.27 bln ($420.50 mln), as rental incomes from retail property remained depressed

** Says economic uncertainty and new work culture dampen office demand during H1, while hotels bleed with strict border control still in force

** Co declares an interim dividend of HK$0.67 per share, from HK$0.78 a year ago

** The Hong Kong Hang Seng sub-index tracking property firms

falls 1.7%, and the benchmark index slips 0.8%

($1 = 7.7765 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Donny Kwok)

((donny.kwok@thomsonreuters.com))