KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of property-education based Paramount Corp Bhd climbed in early trade after it declared a special dividend of 40 sen per share.

At 9.01am, it was up 25 sen to RM5.03 with 12,500 shares done.

The FBM KLCI rose 3.83 points to 1,513.89. Turnover was 21.94 million shares valued at RM29.88 million. There were 77 gainers, 30 losers and 63 stocks unchanged.

Paramount said the dividend of 40 sen per share would go ex on Dec 21 and the entitlement date would be Dec 23.

Paramount, had on Dec 1, completed the sake of its 20% stake in Jerneh Insurance Bhd to ACE INA International Holdings Ltd for RM130.8 million cash.