Anybody can give some insight as to why DBS shot up? Heard from a friend that it is due to macro factors. Thoughts?

This is a bit retrospective. Back then the price went up on hopes of the 60 cent dividend payout. Then towards end of May, they announced quarterly payout and paid another 30 cents.

Going by 30 cents dividend per quarter in Feb / May / Aug / Nov, DBS became like a reit with quarterly payouts. For 1.20 dividend per year over a price of 26+, the dividend yield is about 4.8%. Fairly good... Banks used to pay about 3+% dividend yield.

In the larger scheme of things, DBS will likely remain a staple of STI for a long while with its large business.

Yield wise 4.8% is pretty good... As high as Capital Mall Trust.

For me, I like quarterly dividends, just go for the 30 cents each quarter while riding through the years. Can keep holding it and just use the dividends to reinvest in it or something else. Time is on your side to help with compounding.

DBS earnings growth has been one of the key reasons why its share prices shot up. The main factor is its growth in the insurance and wealth mamagement line. DBS has been rather aggressive in recent times to sell insurance products to its consumers, especially Singapore. This is why profits is growing.

Insurance is one of the highest margin (about 70%) and cashflow lucrative business. OCBC has proven it works with its subsidry Great Eastern contributing a large portion to OCBC's profits